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to tell
01
to use words and give someone information
1.1
to make confidential information or a secret known
Example
'I'm not telling.
She promised not to tell, but her guilty expression gave her away.
The children swore they wouldn’t tell, fearing the consequences if their prank was discovered.
1.2
to use words in order to express or narrate something
Example
He told a story about his childhood adventures.
They told jokes and made everyone laugh.
He asked his friend to tell him the truth about what happened.
Can you tell me if what he said is true or not?
1.3
to instruct or recommend someone to do a particular thing
Example
He was told to turn off his phone during the movie.
She told her son to clean his room before watching TV.
She kept telling herself to stay focused on the task at hand.
Passengers are required to do as they are told by the flight attendants.
1.4
to provide information or facts about something in non-verbal ways
Example
The chart tells us the sales performance of the company.
The label on the jar told us the ingredients of the product.
His facial expression told me that he was upset.
The map tells us how to get to the destination.
The speedometer tells you how fast you are driving.
02
to realize or determine with confidence
2.1
to be able to differentiate a person or thing from another
Example
I can't tell the difference between these two shirts.
Can you tell which twin is which?
I can tell by the taste that this is a different brand of coffee.
Can you tell which song is the original and which is the cover?
03
to have an effect that is noticeable, particularly a harmful one
Example
She told her family about her exciting job offer.
She told her friend about the new restaurant in town.
Can you tell me about your vacation?
Did he tell you about the new project?
Why wasn't I told about the change in schedule?
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