Telling

/ˈtɛlɪŋ/ · verb

Meaning

present participle and gerund of tell.

Definitions by Sense

1. present participle and gerund of tell
2. Having force, or having a marked effect; weighty, effective.
3. Revealing information; bearing significance.
4. Serving to convince.
5. The act of narration.
6. The disclosure of information.
7. (archaic) Counting, numbering.
8. (chiefly in the negative) Ability to determine.

Example Sentences

a telling blow

a telling smile

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.

telling evidence

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.

"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."

Synonyms for telling

Antonyms for telling

Related Words

Word Forms

• more telling
• most telling
• tellings

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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