spell out

verb

spelled out; spelling out; spells out

transitive verb

1
: to make plain
spelled out the orders in detail
2
: to write or print in letters and in full
numbers are to be spelled out

Examples of spell out in a Sentence

the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The administration's Project 2025 handbook explicitly spells out goals to downsize the agency, break it up, and privatize parts of it. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 Certain movies, however, do spell out those numbers in full, so for example the schlocky 2002 movie about giant spiders called Eight Legged Freaks would count for beginning with a vowel, even as 8 Mile would not. Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025 The White House has argued the mere presence of American economic interests in Ukraine would deter future Russian aggression, even without specific assurances spelled out in the deal. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 The conditions that the Trump Administration envisions, which have been spelled out by top U.S. officials, have caused alarm in Ukraine and Europe: no relinquishment of all territory taken by Russia since 2014; no NATO membership for Ukraine; no U.S. peacekeepers to enforce a ceasefire. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spell out

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spell out was in 1940

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spell%20out. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

spell out

verb
1
: to make very plain
our duties were spelled out
2
: to write or print in letters and in full

More from Merriam-Webster on spell out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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