spell

SPEL/spɛl/

Verbspells, spelling, spelled

Noun pluralspells

20 meanings of spell

Practice

1
verbtransitive or intransitive
To say or write the letters of a word in the right order.
Can you spell your name for me?
My little brother is just learning to spell.
UsageAsk How do you spell that? or spell out your name.
2
magic holdnouncountable
Magic words that are meant to make something happen, or the magic power they have over someone.
The princess could not wake up while she was under the spell.
In the game, the spell wears off after one minute.
UsageSay cast a spell on someone, be under a spell, or break a spell.
Similarcharm, incantation, enchantment
Note
3
a whilenouncountable
A length of time, usually not exact, or sometimes a short distance.
We sat on the porch for a spell after dinner.
The store is a fair spell down the road.
UsageSay a dry spell or a cold spell. For a spell means for a while.
Similarperiod, stretch, patch, run, while
Note
4
nouncountable
A period of time spent doing a job or activity.
She did a short spell of gardening before lunch.
After my spell at the wheel, Dad drove the rest of the way.
UsageSay a spell as a cook or a spell at a club.
Similarstint, period, stretch, turn, shift
Note
5
explainverbfigurativelytransitive
To explain something very clearly, giving all the details. Used in the phrase spell out.
The coach spelled out the rules before the game started.
Do I have to spell it out for you? We lost!
UsageSay spell it out, but spell out the rules.
Similarexplain, clarify, detail, specify, outline
Note
6
lead toverbtransitive
To be a sign that something will happen.
Those dark clouds spell rain for the picnic.
Skipping practice all week spells trouble for the team.
UsageSay spell trouble or spell disaster: it means something bad is coming.
Similarmean, signal, portend, herald, signify
Note
7
letters formverbtransitive
To form a word: for example, the letters d-o-g form the word dog.
Like puzzle pieces that fit together to make one picture, letters fit together to make one word.
The letters t-o-p spell the word 'top'.
On the sign, big red letters spelled the name of the store.
Similarform, make
Note

Less common meanings

8
bout (illness)nouncountable
A short time when someone feels sick, weak, or upset.
Grandma had a dizzy spell and sat down on the porch.
He gets coughing spells every winter.
UsageSay a dizzy spell or a coughing spell.
Similarbout, episode, attack, fit, turn
Note
9
bewitchverbtransitive
To use magic words on someone, or to charm them completely.
The witch tried to spell the guards so they would sleep.
The wizard spelled the door so nobody could open it.
Similarbewitch, enchant, charm, entrance, mesmerize
Note
10
stand inverbtransitive
To do someone's job for a while so that person can rest.
Like a teammate who takes your place in a game so you can rest.
I can spell you at the wheel if you get tired.
Dad spelled Mom in the kitchen so she could sit down for a while.
UsagePeople spell each other when they take turns.
Similarrelieve, replace, cover, substitute
Note
11
nouncountable
A short time of rest when you stop working.
Take a spell in the shade before we start again.
After carrying boxes all morning, the movers took a quick spell.
Similarrest, break, breather, respite, pause
12
take a restverbcolloquialintransitive
To take a short rest, or to let a person or animal rest.
Let's spell for a few minutes before we dig any more.
The farmhands spelled under the oak tree during the hottest hour.
Similarrest
13
cricket oversnouncountable
In cricket, a period when the same bowler keeps bowling without being changed.
Like the part of a baseball game when one pitcher keeps pitching until the coach brings in a new one.
The young bowler took two wickets in his first spell.
After a tiring spell, the captain let him rest in the field.
Note
14
splinternoundialectalNorthern Englandcountable
A thin, sharp piece of wood that breaks off a bigger piece.
He got a spell in his finger while sawing the boards.
Watch out for spells when you slide your hand along the old fence.
Similarsplinter, sliver
Note
15
read slowlyverbobsoletetransitive
To read something slowly and with effort, almost letter by letter.
"He'll do," said Bildad, eyeing me, and then went on spelling away at his book in a mumbling tone quite audible.
1851, Herman Melville, Moby DickHere, spelling means reading slowly and with effort, almost letter by letter.
Note
16
nounobsolete
A speech, a story, or a long talk.
Note
17
verbobsolete
In old use, to speak or tell something.
Note
18
nouncountable
A strong power that a person, place, or thing has to attract you, almost like magic.
She fell under the spell of the old city on her first visit.
The singer's voice held the whole room under its spell.
UsageSay fall under someone's spell, or be under its spell.
Similarcharm, allure, magic, influence
Note
19
verbobsolete
To add up to or be equal to an amount.
the Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect
1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of BritainHere, spell means to add up to or equal.
20
noun
The wooden bat used in an old game where players hit a small ball.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of spell apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2, 9, 16, 18

From Old English spell, meaning "news" or "story," going back to an old Germanic and Indo-European root for telling or speaking.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Spell derives from Old English spell, meaning news or story. en.wiktionary.org
The word has Germanic ancestry and an Indo-European root associated with telling or speaking. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 5–7, 15, 17

From Middle English spellen, from an Old French word of Frankish origin meaning "to tell," mixed with a native Old English word of the same meaning.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Spell derives from Middle English spellen. en.wiktionary.org
The Middle English word has Old French and Frankish ancestry. en.wiktionary.org
Old French espeler is glossed as “to call; to cry out; to shout” and “to explain; to tell.” The cited etymology assigns “to speak” to the earlier Proto-Germanic ancestor. en.wiktionary.org
The borrowed word merged with a native Old English word meaning “to speak.” en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 3–4, 8, 10–13

From Old English spelian, meaning "to stand in the place of another" or "act as a substitute."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

This sense of spell derives from Old English spelian. en.wiktionary.org
Old English spelian meant to stand in another's place or act as a substitute. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 14

In Middle English, spel meant a thin piece of wood. It may have come from Old Norse, or from the Old English word speld, which meant "splinter."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Middle English spel meant a thin piece of wood. en.wiktionary.org
The word may have come from Old Norse. en.wiktionary.org
The word may have come from Old English speld. archive.org
Old English speld meant splinter. en.wiktionary.org