telling

(noun) an act of narration. Synonyms: relation, recounting. Examples: "He was the hero according to his own relation." "His endless recounting of the incident eventually became unbearable."

(noun) informing by words. Synonyms: apprisal, notification.

(noun) disclosing information or giving evidence about another. Synonyms: tattle, singing.

(verb) express in words. Synonyms: state, say, tell. Examples: "He said that he wanted to marry her." "Tell me what is bothering you." "State your opinion." "State your name."

(verb) let something be known. Synonyms: tell. Example: "Tell them that you will be late."

(verb) narrate or give a detailed account of. Synonyms: tell, narrate, recount, recite. Examples: "Tell what happened." "The father told a story to his child."

(verb) give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority. Synonyms: order, tell, enjoin, say. Examples: "I said to him to go home." "She ordered him to do the shopping." "The mother told the child to get dressed."

(verb) discern or comprehend. Synonyms: tell. Example: "He could tell that she was unhappy."

(verb) inform positively and with certainty and confidence. Synonyms: assure, tell. Example: "I tell you that man is a crook!."

(verb) give evidence. Synonyms: tell, evidence. Example: "He was telling on all his former colleague."

(verb) mark as different. Synonyms: distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart. Example: "We distinguish several kinds of maple."

(adj) disclosing unintentionally. Synonyms: revealing, telltale(prenominal). Examples: "A telling smile." "A telltale panel of lights." "A telltale patch of oil on the water marked where the boat went down."

(adj) powerfully persuasive. Synonyms: cogent, weighty. Examples: "A cogent argument." "A telling presentation." "A weighty argument."

(adj) producing a strong effect. Synonyms: impressive. Examples: "Gave an impressive performance as othello." "A telling gesture."