told

UK: /ˈtəʊld/ US: /toʊld/ ,(tōld)

From the verb tell: (⇒ conjugate)

told is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

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

told /toʊld/   v. 

1. pt. and pp. of tell.

Idioms

2. Idioms all told, counting everyone or everything;
   in all:
   All told, there were thirty students in the linguistics class.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

told (tōld),  v. 

1. pt. and pp. of tell.
2. all told, counting everyone or everything;
   in all:
   There were 50 guests all told.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

told / təʊld/ verb

1. the past tense and past participle of tell1

adjective

1. See all told

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

tell¹ /tɛl/   v., told/toʊld/  tell•ing. 

1. to narrate (a story, etc.) to (someone): [~ + object]
   He told a story to the children.
   [~ + object + object]
   He told the children a story.
   [no object]
   The story tells of the legend of King Arthur.
2. to make known (a fact, news, etc.) to (someone);
   communicate: [~ + object + object]
   He told us the news of her death.
   [~ + object + about/of + object]
   He told us about her death.
   [~ + object + (that) clause]
   He told us that she had died.
3. to inform (a person) of something:
   [~ + object + object] He told me his name.
4. to utter (the truth, etc.);
   speak: [~ + object (+ to + object)]
   He wasn't telling the truth to his wife.
   [~ + object + object]
   He wasn't telling his wife the truth.
5. to express (thoughts, feelings, etc.) in words:
   [~ + object] to tell one's love.
6. to reveal to others by speaking to them about (something private): [~ + object + object]
   I just told her a secret.
   [~ + object (+ to + object)]
   I told a secret (to my wife).
   [no object]
   Will you hate me if I tell?
7. to say or assert positively: [~ (+ object) + clause]
   [not: be + ~-ing] I can't tell (you) when inflation will come down.
   [no object]
   When will inflation come down? I can't tell yet.
8. to be able to see clearly;
   identify;
   distinguish;
   know: [~ + object]
   [not: be + ~-ing] to tell twins apart.
   [~ + clause]
   to tell if it is night or day.
   [no object] ]:
   Don't ask me how I know; I can just tell.
9. to order or command: [~ + object + to + verb]
   Tell her to stop.
   [~ + object + (that) clause]
   I told her (that) she should pull the car over and stop.
10. to give evidence of (something) to (someone);
    indicate:
    [usually not: be + ~ -ing;

    ~ + object + clause]

    The light on the dashboard tells you if you're driving too fast.
11. to produce a strong effect:
    [no object* (~ + on + object)] The strain of his job began to tell on him.
12. Informal Terms tell off, to scold severely: [~ + object + off]
    It was about time somebody told him off.
    [~ + off + object]
    He told off the whole class because no one was handing in assignments.
13. tell on, [~ + on + object] to tattle on:
    Don't tell on your sister.

Idioms

14. all told, when all have been counted:
    All told, seventeen planes were shot down.
15. Idioms tell it like it is, [no object] [Informal.] to be blunt and tell the whole truth:
    Let me tell it like it is: Things are tough and they're going to get tougher.
16. time will tell, [no object] in time, the facts will be clearly known:
    She may have the makings of an excellent teacher; time will tell.

Usage

See say.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tell¹ (tel),  v., told, tell•ing. 

v.t. 

1. to give an account or narrative of;
   narrate;
   relate (a story, tale, etc.):
   to tell the story of Lincoln's childhood.
2. to make known by speech or writing (a fact, news, information, etc.);
   communicate.
3. to announce or proclaim.
4. to utter (the truth, a lie, etc.).
5. to express in words (thoughts, feelings, etc.).
6. to reveal or divulge (something secret or private).
7. to say plainly or positively:
   I cannot tell just what was done.
8. to discern or recognize (a distant person or thing) so as to be able to identify or describe:
   Can you tell who that is over there?
9. to distinguish;
   discriminate;
   ascertain:
   You could hardly tell the difference between them.
10. to inform (a person) of something:
    He told me his name.
11. to assure emphatically:
    I won't, I tell you!
12. to bid, order, or command:
    Tell him to stop.
13. to mention one after another, as in enumerating;
    count or set one by one or in exact amount:
    to tell the cattle in a herd; All told there were 17 if we are correct.

v.i. 

14. to give an account or report:
    Tell me about your trip.
15. to give evidence or be an indication:
    The ruined temples told of an ancient culture, long since passed from existence.
16. to disclose something secret or private;
    inform;
    tattle:
    She knows who did it, but she won't tell.
17. to say positively;
    determine;
    predict:
    Who can tell?
18. to have force or effect;
    operate effectively:
    a contest in which every stroke tells.
19. to produce a marked or severe effect:
    The strain was telling on his health.
20. British Terms to talk or chat.
21. tell it like it is, [Informal.] to tell the complete, unadulterated truth;
    be forthright:
    He may be crude but he tells it like it is.
22. tell off:
    • to separate from the whole and assign to a particular duty.
    • [Informal.] to rebuke severely;
      scold:
      It was about time that someone told him off.
23. tell on, to tattle on (someone).

• bef. 900; Middle English tellen, Old English tellan to relate, count; cognate with Dutch tellen to reckon, count, Old Norse telja to count, say, Old High German zellēn; akin to tale

Synonyms

• 1. recount, describe, report.
• 2. impart.
• 4. speak.
• 6. disclose, betray; acknowledge, own, confess; declare.

tell² (tel), n. 

1. Archaeology an artificial mound consisting of the accumulated remains of one or more ancient settlements (often used in Egypt and the Middle East as part of a place name).

• Arabic tall hillock
• 1860–65

Tell  (tel), n. Wil•helm 

(vil′helm). 
1. Mythology See William Tell. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tell / tɛl/ verb (tells, telling, told)

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to let know; notify
2. (transitive) to order or instruct (someone to do something)
3. when intr, usually followed by of: to give an account or narration (of something)
4. (transitive) to communicate by words; utter: to tell the truth
5. (transitive) to make known; disclose: to tell fortunes
6. (intransitive) often followed by of: to serve as an indication: her blush told of her embarrassment
7. (tr; used with can, etc; may take a clause as object) to comprehend, discover, or discern: I can tell what is wrong
8. (tr; used with can, etc) to distinguish or discriminate: he couldn't tell chalk from cheese
9. (intransitive) to have or produce an impact, effect, or strain: every step told on his bruised feet
10. (intransitive) sometimes followed by on: to reveal secrets or gossip (about)
11. (transitive) to assure: I tell you, I've had enough!
12. (transitive) to count (votes)
13. tell the time ⇒ to read the time from a clock
14. you're telling me ⇒ I know that very well

Etymology: Old English tellan; related to Old Saxon tellian, Old High German zellen to tell, count, Old Norse telja

ˈtellable adjective

tell / tɛl/ noun

1. a large mound resulting from the accumulation of rubbish on a long-settled site, esp one with mudbrick buildings, particularly in the Middle East

Etymology: 19th Century: from Arabic tall