Pronunciations
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/ˈtɛlɪŋ/
Adjective
Having force, or having a marked effect; weighty, effective.
- Examples
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a telling blow
Revealing information; bearing significance.
- Examples
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a telling smile
More examples (1)
But ever since the concept of "hamartia" recurred through Aristotle's Poetics, in an attempt to describe man's ingrained iniquity, our impulse has been to identify a telling defect in those brought suddenly and dramatically low.
Serving to convince.
- Examples
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telling evidence
Noun
The act of narration.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The disclosure of information.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
There may he sit and smile, or creep among the ships, or moan and sigh round islands in his great content—the miser lord of wealth in gems and pearls beyond the telling of all fables.
Counting, numbering.
Usage- Archaic
- Countable
- Uncountable
Ability to determine.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- in the negative
- Examples
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More examples (1)
"One white man." said Bill, after a brief inspection. "Out on his line, I s'pose, and there's no tellin' when he'll be back. So we won't wait. We'll just serve notice on him."
Adjective
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
- Examples
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a telling smile
a telltale panel of lights
More examples (1)
a telltale patch of oil on the water marked where the boat went down
powerfully persuasive
- Examples
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a cogent argument
a telling presentation
More examples (1)
a weighty argument
producing a strong effect
- Synonyms
- Examples
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gave an impressive performance as Othello
a telling gesture
Noun
an act of narration
- Synonyms
- Examples
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he was the hero according to his own relation
his endless recounting of the incident eventually became unbearable
informing by words
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
disclosing information or giving evidence about another
- Broader terms