spell

UK: /ˈspɛl/ US: /spɛl/ ,(spel)

Inflections of 'spell' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

The past form "spelt" is mainly used in UK English. It is correct in US English, but rare. The past form "spelled" is correct in both US and UK English.

spells

v 3rd person singular

spelling

v pres p

spelled

v past (US & UK)

spelt

v past (Mainly UK)

spelled

v past p (US & UK)

spelt

v past p (Mainly UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spell¹ /spɛl/   v., spelled or spelt/spɛlt/  spell•ing. 

1. Linguistics to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.): [~ + object]
   Did I spell your name right?
   [no object]
   How did you learn to spell so well?
2. Linguistics, (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.):
   [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object] Y-e-s spells yes.
3. to read or say (a word) letter by letter or with difficulty: [~ + out + object]
   Spell out your name for me.
   [~ + object + out]
   to spell some words out.
4. to signify;
   amount to;
   mean or signal:
   [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object] This delay spells disaster for the business.
5. spell out, to explain something plainly: [~ + object + out]
   Must I spell it out for you? Our engagement is broken!
   [~ + out + object]
   Would someone spell out for me just what this crisis will do to our company?

spell² /spɛl/   n. [countable]

1. a word or phrase believed to have magic power;
   an incantation:
   uttering charms and spells.
2. a state or period of enchantment caused by magic power:
   living under a spell.
3. any strong influence;
   fascination:
   [usually: singular] under the spell of music.

spell³ /spɛl/   n. [countable]

1. a continuous period of activity:
   You've been driving all day; let someone else take a spell at the wheel.
2. a bout or fit of anything experienced:
   a spell of coughing.
3. an indefinite period:
   Come visit us for a spell.
4. a period of weather of a certain kind:
   a hot spell.

v. [~ + object]

5. to take the place of for a time;
   relieve:
   Let me spell you at the wheel.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spell¹  (spel), v., spelled or spelt, spell•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Linguistics to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.):
   Did I spell your name right?
2. Linguistics, (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.):
   The letters spelled a rather rude word.
3. to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often fol. by out):
   She painfully spelled out the message.
4. to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often fol. by out).
5. to signify;
   amount to:
   This delay spells disaster for us.

v.i. 

6. Linguistics to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.:
   He spells poorly.
7. Linguistics to express words by letters, esp. correctly.
8. Education spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match.
9. spell out:
   • to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable:
     Must I spell it out for you?
   • to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed:
     The title "Ph.D.'' is seldom spelled out.

• Gmc; compare Old English spellian to talk, announce (derivative of spell spell²), Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjalla, Gothic spillōn
• Old French espeller
• Middle English spellen 1250–1300

spell′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 5. foretell, portend, mean, promise.

spell² (spel),  n. 

1. a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power;
   charm;
   incantation:
   The wizard cast a spell.
2. a state or period of enchantment:
   She was under a spell.
3. any dominating or irresistible influence;
   fascination:
   the spell of fine music.

• bef. 900; Middle English spell, Old English: discourse; cognate with Old High German spel, Old Norse spjall, Gothic spill tale; see spell¹, gospel

spell′ful, adj. 
spell′-like′, adj. 

spell³ (spel),  n. 

1. a continuous course or period of work or other activity:
   to take a spell at the wheel.
2. a turn of work so taken.
3. a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring:
   a spell of coughing.
4. an indefinite interval or space of time:
   Come visit us for a spell.
5. a period of weather of a specified kind:
   a hot spell.
6. British Terms [Australian.] a rest period.
7. [Archaic.] a person or set of persons taking a turn of work to relieve another.

v.t. 

8. to take the place of for a time;
   relieve:
   Let me spell you at the wheel.
9. British Terms [Australian.] to declare or give a rest period to.

v.i. 

10. British Terms [Australian.] to have or take a rest period.

• 1585–95; (verb, verbal) alteration of earlier spele to stand instead of, relieve, spare, Middle English spelen, Old English spelian; akin to Old English spala, gespelia a substitute; (noun, nominal) akin to the verb, verbal (perh. continuing Old English gespelia)

Synonyms

• 4. while, bit, piece.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spell / spɛl/ verb (spells, spelling, spelt, spelled)

1. to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)
2. (transitive) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctly: d-o-g spells dog
3. (transitive) to indicate or signify: such actions spell disaster for our cause

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen

ˈspellable adjective

spell / spɛl/ noun

1. a verbal formula considered as having magical force
2. any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination
3. a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; trance: to break the spell
4. under a spell ⇒ held in or as if in a spell

verb (spells, spelling, spelled)

1. (transitive) to place under a spell

Etymology: Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel

spell / spɛl/ noun

1. an indeterminate, usually short, period of time: a spell of cold weather
2. a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another
3. a period or interval of rest

verb (spells, spelling, spelled)

1. (transitive) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily

Etymology: Old English spelian to take the place of, of obscure origin