as in explained
to make plain or understandable
the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man
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Recent Examples of spelled out
The sign spelled out the name Billy Boman.
—
Matti Yahav, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Sim released a statement of his own Tuesday that spelled out the club’s history in Vancouver dating back to 1974 and its sporting success over the last few seasons in MLS.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The writing in Book of Love thrives on this sort of ambiguity; the band would rather listeners read between every one of its lines than have the story spelled out for them.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026
Sometimes these repercussions are spelled out in the CC&Rs, and other times they are handled on a case-by-case basis.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2026
Google hasn’t really spelled out its agentic coding vision to the world.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The contract spelled out that Grayson is an honorary member of the Falcons and also memorializes the team’s commitment to being a support system for Grayson.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The money will go toward new athletic fields, trails, and other amenities spelled out in the $170 million plan.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026
The subpoena authority is spelled out in both the Boston City Charter and City Council rules.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Matti Yahav, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Sim released a statement of his own Tuesday that spelled out the club’s history in Vancouver dating back to 1974 and its sporting success over the last few seasons in MLS.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The writing in Book of Love thrives on this sort of ambiguity; the band would rather listeners read between every one of its lines than have the story spelled out for them.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026
Sometimes these repercussions are spelled out in the CC&Rs, and other times they are handled on a case-by-case basis.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2026
Google hasn’t really spelled out its agentic coding vision to the world.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The contract spelled out that Grayson is an honorary member of the Falcons and also memorializes the team’s commitment to being a support system for Grayson.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The money will go toward new athletic fields, trails, and other amenities spelled out in the $170 million plan.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Apr. 2026
The subpoena authority is spelled out in both the Boston City Charter and City Council rules.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spelled out
Verb
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Over the course of 25 minutes Breslow and Kennedy explained their decision to fire one of the most accomplished managers in franchise history after just 27 games this season and elevate Triple-A manager Chad Tracy to the big league role on an interim basis.—
Mac Cerullo,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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Studley explained the biological process responsible for the lobster’s two-toned appearance.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Consider these our contemporary cupcake commandments, illustrated by three new recipes that are, as Carrie would say, fabulous.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
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Nothing could have better illustrated where the Penguins are in their first-round NHL playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers — or the team’s mindset.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sixteen years, zero decay The battery prototype demonstrated endurance, maintaining a stable structure and perfect reversibility over 6,000 cycles — equivalent to more than 16 years of daily operation — with zero loss in storage capacity.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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Despite the child molestation claims that plagued Jackson for decades, his fans have demonstrated a number of times that the answer is yes.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officials said Friday that water service was promptly switched off to about 75 customers shortly after the incident, but clarified Saturday that the number of customers impacted was closer to 67 households.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In an Instagram video, Nezhoda clarified that while the two often clashed on screen, their rivalry didn't reflect their real-life relationship.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some interpreted McVay’s demeanor on Thursday night as evidence of a splinter in one of the league’s most successful partnerships.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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These findings are promising, but they should be interpreted carefully, especially because most studies have been conducted in laboratory settings or animal models, rather than on people.—
Mavra Javed,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even cruise bookings are getting simplified.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
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But the use of guest editors has multiplied in recent years, because of the rise of digital publishing, which simplified production of such issues, as well as changing financial models.—
Anil Oza,
STAT,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spelled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spelled%20out. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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