Pronunciation: /ˈtɛlɪŋ/

Definitions of telling

verb the action of communicating information or instructions

Example Sentences

A1 She is telling a story to her friend.

A2 He enjoys telling jokes to make people laugh.

B1 The teacher is telling the students about the upcoming exam.

B2 After the meeting, the manager was telling the team about the new project.

C1 The author is known for telling captivating tales in his novels.

C2 The politician was caught telling lies during the debate.

adjective indicating or revealing something

Example Sentences

A1 She is telling a story to her friends.

A2 The telling look in his eyes revealed his true feelings.

B1 The telling details in the report helped solve the case.

B2 His telling remarks caused a stir among the audience.

C1 The telling silence between them spoke volumes about their strained relationship.

C2 Her telling performance in the play earned her critical acclaim.

Examples of telling in a Sentence

formal She was telling the truth about her whereabouts during the crime.

informal I can't believe you're telling me this juicy gossip!

slang Stop telling me to chill out, I'll relax when I want to.

figurative His eyes were telling a different story than his words.

Grammatical Forms of telling

past tense

told

plural

tellings

comparative

more telling

superlative

most telling

present tense

tell

future tense

will tell

perfect tense

have told

continuous tense

is telling

singular

teller

positive degree

telling

infinitive

to tell

gerund

telling

participle

telling

Origin and Evolution of telling

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'telling' originated from the Old English word 'tellan' which means to count, reckon, narrate, or explain.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'telling' evolved to also mean impactful or revealing in a way that conveys a strong message or significance.