Telling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈte-liŋ/ tell·ing

Meaning & Definition of Telling

Telling (adjective)

  1. carrying great weight and producing a marked effect, effective, expressive

Telling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having the power to persuade

    "presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right"

    similar: cogent, compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, forceful, persuasive, satisfying, strong
    related: authoritative, definitive, sound, valid, well-founded, important, significant, weighty, material, pertinent, relevant
    opposite: inconclusive, indecisive, ineffective, uncompelling, unconvincing, unpersuasive
    near: groundless, invalid, shaky, unfounded, unsound, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, immaterial, irrelevant, feeble, weak

Telling (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give an oral or written account of in some detail

    "they told the story of how they had met"

    similar: charting, chronicling, describing, narrating, reciting, recounting, rehearsing, relating, reporting, setting forth
    related: delivering, giving, reeling off, stating, uttering, voicing, detailing, enumerating, itemizing, particularizing, baring, disclosing, divulging, exposing, letting on (about), revealing, delineating, depicting, expressing, rendering, sketching

  2. to express (a thought or emotion) in words

    "just tell us what is in your heart"

    similar: articulating, bringing out, enunciating, passing, saying, speaking, stating, talking, uttering, verbalizing, vocalizing, putting into words
    related: airing, discussing, giving, looking, sharing, sounding, ventilating, venting, voicing, blabbering, blurting, bolting, getting off, shooting, advertising, announcing, blazing, broadcasting, declaring, posting, proclaiming, promulgating, publicizing, publishing, affirming, alleging, asserting, averring, avouching, avowing, breathing, chirping, drawling, gasping, lipping, mouthing, murmuring, purring, shouting, spluttering, spouting, whispering, clothing, couching, formulating, formulizing, phrasing, putting, wording, commenting, piping up (with), remarking, ripping (out), snarling
    near: stifling, suppressing

  3. to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added

    "who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?"

    similar: counting, enumerating, numbering
    related: adding (up), tallying, totaling, calculating, computing, reckoning, tabling, tabulating, checking, marking, ticking (off), recounting

  4. to give information to

    "tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?"

    similar: acquainting, advising, apprising, briefing, catching up, clearing, clueing (in), enlightening, familiarizing, filling in, hipping, informing, instructing, versing, wising (up), keeping (someone) posted, letting someone know
    related: advertising, alerting, notifying, announcing (to), disclosing (to), assuring, certifying, convincing, reassuring, warranting, educating, lecturing, schooling, teaching, tutoring, disabusing, disenchanting, disillusioning, undeceiving
    near: misinforming, misleading

  5. to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

    "told us to sit still and wait"

    similar: adjuring, bidding, bossing (around), charging, commanding, directing, enjoining, instructing, ordering
    related: asking, petitioning, requesting, begging, beseeching, entreating, advising, counseling, warning, appointing, assigning, authorizing, commissioning, overseeing, superintending, supervising, conducting, controlling, leading, managing, coercing, compelling, constraining, forcing, obliging, requiring
    opposite: minding, obeying
    near: complying (with), following, keeping, observing

  6. to make known (as information previously kept secret)

    "I won't tell your secret to anyone"

    similar: baring, disclosing, discovering, divulging, exposing, letting on (about), revealing, spilling, unbosoming, uncloaking, uncovering, unmasking, unveiling, bringing to light, going public (with), letting the cat out of the bag (about), spilling the beans (about)
    related: confiding, sharing, debunking, showing up, unclothing, undraping, advertising, announcing, blazing, bringing out, broadcasting, declaring, placarding, posting, proclaiming, promulgating, publicizing, publishing, sounding, betraying, blabbing, giving away, leaking, informing, squealing, talking, communicating, imparting, relating, acknowledging, admitting, avowing, conceding, confessing, owning, disinterring, raking up, smoking out, unearthing
    opposite: cloaking, concealing, covering (up), enshrouding, hiding, masking, shrouding, veiling
    near: camouflaging, disguising, gilding, glossing (over), varnishing, whitewashing, beclouding, bedimming, befogging, clouding, darkening, eclipsing, obscuring, overcasting, overshadowing, shading

Related Entry: Tell (verb)

Tell is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for tell, not for telling.

  1. to give an oral or written account of in some detail

    "they told the story of how they had met"

    similar: chart, chronicle, describe, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report, set forth
    related: deliver, give, reel off, state, utter, voice, detail, enumerate, itemize, particularize, bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal, delineate, depict, express, render, sketch

  2. to express (a thought or emotion) in words

    "just tell us what is in your heart"

    similar: articulate, bring out, enunciate, pass, say, speak, state, talk, utter, verbalize, vocalize, put into words
    related: air, discuss, give, look, share, sound, vent, ventilate, voice, blabber, bolt, blurt, get off, shoot, advertise, announce, blaze, broadcast, declare, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, breathe, chirp, drawl, gasp, lip, mouth, murmur, purr, shout, splutter, spout, whisper, clothe, couch, formulate, formulize, phrase, put, word, comment, pipe up (with), remark, rip (out), snarl
    near: stifle, suppress

  3. to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added

    "who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?"

    similar: count, enumerate, number
    related: add (up), tally, total, calculate, compute, reckon, table, tabulate, check, mark, tick (off), recount

  4. to give information to

    "tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?"

    similar: acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catch up, clear, clue (in), enlighten, familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, instruct, verse, wise (up), keep (someone) posted, let someone know
    related: advertise, alert, notify, announce (to), disclose (to), assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant, educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor, disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceive
    near: misinform, mislead

  5. to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

    "told us to sit still and wait"

    similar: adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, order
    related: ask, petition, request, beg, beseech, entreat, advise, counsel, warn, appoint, assign, authorize, commission, oversee, superintend, supervise, conduct, control, lead, manage, coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require
    opposite: mind, obey
    near: comply (with), follow, keep, observe

  6. to make known (as information previously kept secret)

    "I won't tell your secret to anyone"

    similar: bare, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal, spill, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil, bring to light, go public (with), let the cat out of the bag (about), spill the beans (about)
    related: confide, share, debunk, show up, unclothe, undrape, advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound, betray, blab, give away, leak, inform, squeal, talk, communicate, impart, relate, acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own, disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth
    opposite: cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil
    near: camouflage, disguise, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash, becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade

Related Entry: Tell (of) (verb)

Tell (of) is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for tell (of), not for telling.

  1. to serve as a sign or symptom of

    "his poor performance in the debate tells of too little preparation"

    similar: bespeak, betoken, denote, indicate, mean, point (to), signify
    related: bode, foreshow, foretell, presage

Related Entry: Tell (on) (verb)

Tell (on) is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for tell (on), not for telling.

  1. to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response

    "the pressure of final exams is beginning to tell on the students in the dorm"

    similar: affect, impact, impress, influence, move, reach, strike, sway, touch, get to
    related: carry away, dazzle, enrapture, entrance, enthrall, ravish, transport, bias, color, inspire, stir, engage, interest, involve, penetrate, pierce, afflict, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, disturb, fluster, harass, harry, perturb, pester, plague, smite, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry, wring, allure, attract, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, underwhelm

  2. to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities

    "detectives convinced the perpetrators in custody to tell on their associates"

    similar: fink, grass (on) (British slang), inform, rat (on), sing, snitch, split (on) (British), squeak, squeal, talk, drop a dime (on)
    related: betray, give away, turn in, backstab, cross, double-cross, sell (out), two-time, blab, tattle, tip (off)

Related Entry: Telling off (verb)

Telling off is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for telling off, not for telling.

  1. as in chewing out, railing (at or against)

    similar: bawling out, berating, chewing out, cutting up, dressing down, flaying, gibbeting, jawing, keelhauling, lambasting, lecturing, ragging, railing (at or against), rating, scolding, scoring, upbraiding, castigating, punishing, belittling, criticizing, deprecating, depreciating, disparaging, admonishing, chastising, censuring, condemning, denouncing, objurgating, rebuking, reprimanding, reproaching, reproving
    opposite: citing, commending, endorsing, acclaiming, applauding, hailing, honoring, eulogizing, lauding, praising, approving, blessing, sanctioning

Related Entry: Fortune-telling (adjective)

Fortune-telling is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for fortune-telling, not for telling.

  1. as in predicting, soothsaying

    similar: divining, forecasting, foreknowing, foreseeing, foretelling, predicting, presaging, prognosticating, prophesying, soothsaying, amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, extraordinary, fabulous, marvelous, miraculous, portentous, stunning, stupendous, sublime, wondrous, metaphysical, preternatural, unearthly, bewitching, charming, conjuring, enchanting, wiling, paranormal, supernormal, bewitched, enchanted, spellbound, magic, magical, mystic, numinous, occult, weird
    opposite: commonplace, everyday, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday

Related Entry: Fortune-telling (noun)

Fortune-telling is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for fortune-telling, not for telling.

  1. as in divination, soothsaying

    similar: augury, crystal gazing, divination, divining, forecasting, foreknowing, foreseeing, foretelling, predicting, presaging, prognosticating, prophesying, soothsaying, sortilege, curse, hex, jinx, hexerei, hoodoo, occultism, spiritualism, conjuration, glamour, incantation, spell, augur, omen, abracadabra, amulet, charm, fetish, mascot, periapt, phylactery, talisman, exorcism, bewitchery, bewitchment, conjuring, devilry, diablerie, enchantment, ensorcellment, magic, mojo, necromancy, sorcery, thaumaturgy, voodooism, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry, alchemy
    opposite: science

Related Entry: Tale-telling (adjective)

Tale-telling is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for tale-telling, not for telling.

  1. as in gossipy, talebearing

    similar: gossipy, talebearing, articulate, fluent, glib, voluble, well-spoken, long-winded, prolix, rambling, verbose, windy, wordy, free-spoken, outspoken, unreserved, vocal, extroverted, gregarious, outgoing, sociable, demonstrative, effusive, gushing, communicative, expansive, blabby, chatty, conversational, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, motormouthed, mouthy, talkative, talky
    opposite: closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, quiet, shy, mum, mute, silent, speechless, tongue-tied, wordless, evasive, nonvocal, secretive, self-contained, aloof, indrawn, inhibited, introverted, retiring, unsociable, withdrawn

Related Entry: Fortune-teller (noun)

Fortune-teller is a different word from Telling. The synonyms below are for fortune-teller, not for telling.

  1. one who predicts future events or developments

    "the carnival's fortune-teller should have predicted that I'd pass right by her"

    similar: augur, diviner, forecaster, foreseer, foreteller, futurist, prognosticator, prophesier, prophet, seer, soothsayer, visionary
    related: prophetess, sibyl, wisewoman, mystic, oracle, astrologer, crystal gazer, palmist, rhabdomancer, Cassandra, doomsayer, doomsdayer, Jeremiah

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Telling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Telling:

cogent, compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, forceful, persuasive, satisfying, strong, charting, chronicling, describing, narrating, reciting, recounting, rehearsing, relating, reporting, articulating, bringing out, enunciating, passing, saying, speaking, stating, talking, uttering, verbalizing, vocalizing, counting, enumerating, numbering, acquainting, advising, apprising, briefing, catching up, clearing, clueing (in)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Telling

Words with the opposite meaning of Telling:

inconclusive, indecisive, ineffective, uncompelling, unconvincing, unpersuasive, minding, obeying, cloaking, concealing, covering (up), enshrouding, hiding, masking, shrouding, veiling

Related Words for Telling

authoritative, definitive, sound, valid, well-founded, important, significant, weighty, material, pertinent, relevant, delivering, giving, reeling off, voicing, detailing, itemizing, particularizing, delineating, depicting, expressing, rendering, sketching, airing, discussing, looking, sharing, sounding, ventilating, venting

Near Antonyms of Telling

groundless, invalid, shaky, unfounded, unsound, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, immaterial, irrelevant, feeble, weak, stifling, suppressing, misinforming, misleading, complying (with), following, keeping, observing, camouflaging, disguising, gilding, glossing (over), varnishing, whitewashing, beclouding, bedimming, befogging, clouding

Word Forms of Telling

Derived words: tellingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Telling

First known use: 1819

Words & Phrases Containing Telling

I don't mind telling you, there's no telling, you're telling me

Frequently Asked Questions about Telling

What does "Telling" mean?

"Telling" means carrying great weight and producing a marked effect, effective, expressive. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: carrying great weight and producing a marked effect, effective, expressive. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Telling"?

Other words for "Telling" include cogent, compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, forceful and persuasive. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Telling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Telling"?

There are 226 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Telling". Common alternatives include cogent, compelling, conclusive, convincing, decisive, effective, forceful, persuasive, satisfying and strong.

What is the opposite of "Telling"?

Antonyms of "Telling" include inconclusive, indecisive, ineffective, uncompelling, unconvincing, unpersuasive, minding and obeying. Near antonyms include groundless, invalid, shaky and unfounded.

How do you use "Telling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Telling" in a sentence: "presented us with telling evidence that convinced us he was right"; "they told the story of how they had met"; "just tell us what is in your heart".

Is "Telling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Telling" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Telling"?

"Telling" is pronounced /ˈte-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as tell·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Telling"?

First known use: 1819.