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[ UK /tˈɛlɪŋ/ ]
[ US /ˈtɛɫɪŋ/ ]
NOUN
  1. an act of narration
    his endless recounting of the incident eventually became unbearable
    he was the hero according to his own relation
  2. disclosing information or giving evidence about another
  3. informing by words
ADJECTIVE
  1. disclosing unintentionally something concealed
    a telling smile
    a telltale patch of oil on the water marked where the boat went down
    a telltale panel of lights
  2. powerfully persuasive
    a weighty argument
    a cogent argument
    a telling presentation
  3. producing a strong effect
    a telling gesture
    gave an impressive performance as Othello

How To Use telling In A Sentence

  • But try telling that to the little old lady who has waited in vain a couple of years for a vital eye operation.
  • It's a bit like telling ghost stories.
  • If Ratzinger wants to stay in Italy and scare school kids by telling them God is watching when they French kiss or masturbate, that is his sexual silliness. Joe Cutbirth: The Pope Can't Get Away With This
  • When Wilbraham was telling me this part of Ids story he seemed to be enveloped -- "enveloped" is the word that best conveys my own experience of him -- by some quite radiant happiness. The Best British Short Stories of 1922
  • The BBC never tires of telling us how passionately it seeks the interest and participation of the public in its political output, particularly the young.
  • Don't break in when he is telling the story.
  • At first, when their cops out there started telling me things, I didn't want to know. YESTERDAY'S SHADOW
  • He is always telling the director how to run the business; that's like teaching one's grandmother how to suck eggs.
  • I was telling him about last night and he described me as sounding languid and louche, and consequently correctly guessed that I was still in bed.
  • This kind of discourse is at the opposite pole from storytelling as defined by Benjamin.
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