Tell: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this when sharing information or stories, often in a direct or personal manner. Commonly used in casual or conversational settings.

• She told me a funny story
• Tell him the truth

Used when providing important or official information, often in a formal or serious context.

• Please inform the manager about the issue
• The report informs the public about health risks

General purpose word used for stating or expressing something verbally, often in everyday conversation.

• What did she say about the meeting? He said he would be late

This is suitable for more formal or professional settings, emphasizing the exchange of information clearly and effectively.

• We need to communicate the new strategy to the team
• He has a unique way of communicating his ideas

Appropriate for casual or direct conversations. Often used when giving information, instructions, or sharing something in a straightforward way.

• Can you tell me the time?
• She told him a secret.

Best used in formal or literary contexts when explaining a sequence of events, often with a specific order or timeline.

• The author narrated the entire story from the protagonist's perspective.
• The tour guide narrated the history of the ancient ruins.

Often used in a more formal context to convey connections between events, stories, or ideas. It can also imply a closer relationship or understanding of the subject matter.

• She was able to relate the new information to her previous knowledge.
• He related the incident as if it had happened to him yesterday.

Typically used when retelling experiences or events, often in detail. Suitable for both formal and informal settings, especially when explaining personal experiences.

• He recounted his adventures traveling through South America.
• She recounted the events of the meeting to her colleague.

Use 'tell' when you want to communicate information or give instructions to someone. It's often about speaking or relaying information.

• She asked him to tell her the truth.
• Can you tell me how to get to the library?

Use 'count' when you are determining the number of items in a group. It's often used in arithmetic or to express the act of enumeration.

• I need to count the number of chairs in the room.
• He can count up to 100.

Use 'total' when you want to refer to the complete amount or aggregate of something. It can be both a noun and an adjective.

• The total cost is $50.
• What is the total number of students in the class?

Use 'sum' when referring to the result of adding numbers together. It can also be used metaphorically to mean the total amount of anything.

• The sum of 5 and 7 is 12.
• What's the sum of all these expenses?