What does spell mean?
The word spell most commonly refers to saying or writing the letters of a word in the correct order, as in asking someone to spell an unfamiliar name. It can also mean to express or describe something in a particular way, or to remain in a condition for a period of time, as in being spelled by bad weather. In modern English, spelling is especially associated with written accuracy and with the familiar process of learning and checking the letters of words, though the verb has a much broader history than that. The related noun spell can refer to a period of time, a magical influence, or a set of words used in a ritual. Spell is used in everyday speech, education, writing instruction, and figurative expressions such as spell out, where it means to explain something fully and clearly.
To say or write the letters of a word in their correct order; to mean or express something in a particular way; or to last for a period of time.
"The teacher asked the pupils to spell the difficult words aloud."
The phrase spell out means to explain something clearly and in detail.
A period of time during which something lasts, or a set of words believed to have magical power.
"The region experienced a spell of unusually dry weather."
The magical sense is now literary or traditional, while the period-of-time sense is common in expressions such as a spell of rain or a spell of bad luck.
The plural is used for separate periods of time and for magical formulas or influences.
"The village remained calm through several spells of severe weather."
Before autocorrect, finding one wrong letter in a spelling could be enough to change the meaning of an entire message.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of spell
The verb spell comes from Old English spellan, meaning to read carefully, explain, or describe. Its historical sense of expressing something in words developed into the modern sense of writing or saying the letters of a word. The related noun spell, meaning a period of time and also a magical formula or influence, has separate but historically connected Old English origins. The words speller and spelling are later formations based on the same English root.
Related word forms
How spell is actually used
In its first sense, spell is common in both formal and informal English. The phrase spell out can mean to state something clearly and in detail, not merely to write the letters of a word.
Easily confused with spell
Spell is the general verb for writing or saying letters in order, while spelt is chiefly the past tense and past participle of spell and is also a separate word meaning a type of grain.