spell
spell — verb
- spellpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spellshe / she / it
- speltpast simple
- spelledpast simple
- spelling-ing form
1. To produce a word by putting its letters together in the right order, either alo
To produce a word by putting its letters together in the right order, either aloud or in writing.
Lara asked her son to spell 'elephant' during his homework.
spell + noun (a word)
Can you spell your surname for me, please?
Niran spelled every word correctly on the spelling test.
Eitan learned to spell his full name when he was four.
The receptionist asked Hannah to spell her last name slowly.
- write out
more general; can mean writing full words or numbers in full form
- transcribe
more formal; often used for converting speech or another writing system into text
- misspell
to spell a word incorrectly
文法句型
spell + noun
spell + adverb (correctly, wrong)
常見錯誤
2. To be a clear sign that something unwanted or harmful is going to happen.
To be a clear sign that something unwanted or harmful is going to happen.
The sudden drop in sales spelled trouble for the small company.
spell + trouble (collocation for bad outcome)
Those dark clouds spell rain before the picnic is over.
The referee's red card spelled the end of Zayd's final match.
A mistake like that could spell disaster for the whole project.
Sven knew the delay spelled the cancellation of their holiday plans.
文法句型
spell + trouble/disaster/doom/end (for someone)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a situation, event, or action — not a person. Typical objects: trouble, disaster, the end (of something), doom, ruin.
常見錯誤
3. To step in and take over someone's job or task for a while, giving them a chance
To step in and take over someone's job or task for a while, giving them a chance to rest.
Baraka spelled the tired driver at the wheel during the long trip.
spell + someone + at + activity
Can you spell me at the counter while I grab a coffee?
Sahil came in to spell the night nurse for a few hours.
The two fishermen spelled each other throughout the cold morning.
Kemi spelled her colleague at the front desk during the lunch rush.
- relieve
more formal and common in all varieties of English
- stand in for
emphasises the temporary replacement rather than giving rest
- take over from
neutral; does not always imply the person needs a rest
文法句型
spell + someone
spell + someone + at + activity
用法筆記
Common in British English; less frequent in American English, where 'relieve' or 'take over for' is preferred. Often used with 'at' to name the task or location.
常見錯誤
4. To use magic words to gain control over a person or thing, placing them under an
To use magic words to gain control over a person or thing, placing them under an enchantment.
The witch spelled the prince into a deep and endless sleep.
spell + someone + into + state
In the old tale, a sorcerer spelled the entire village silent.
Ezra read about a mirror spelled to show only the truth.
The old woman spelled the well dry, according to village gossip.
The sorceress spelled the knight into a state of fearless courage before the battle.
文法句型
spell + someone
be spelled + adjective/by magic
用法筆記
Mostly found in fairy tales, fantasy fiction, and archaic texts. In modern English, 'bewitch' or 'enchant' are more common verbs for this meaning.
spell — noun
- spellsingular
- spellsplural
1. A continuous stretch of time during which a particular activity or non-weather c
A continuous stretch of time during which a particular activity or non-weather condition lasts — for weather periods, see sense 2.
Hannah went through a brief spell of feeling sad last autumn.
a spell of + feeling/condition
Ziad spent a long spell working on farms in New Zealand.
After a quiet spell of six weeks, the phone started ringing again.
Lara's grandfather had a dizzy spell and sat down quickly.
The city enjoyed a rare spell of peace after years of fighting.
文法句型
a spell of + [activity/condition]
a + [adjective] + spell
2. A brief run of one kind of weather — such as a cold spell or a warm spell.
A brief run of one kind of weather — such as a cold spell or a warm spell.
A warm spell in February brought the flowers out early.
warm spell (weather collocation)
The cold spell lasted three days and froze every pond in town.
Sumin's wedding day fell during a rare sunny spell that week.
Farmers worried that the dry spell would ruin the young crops.
A wet spell flooded the streets and closed two of the schools.
文法句型
a + [adjective] + spell
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 1: this sense is specifically about weather conditions, while sense 1 covers any activity, state, or condition lasting over time.
3. A turn at doing a task or a shift of work, especially one that lets the usual pe
A turn at doing a task or a shift of work, especially one that lets the usual person take a break.
Niran took a spell at the cash register while the owner ate lunch.
take a spell at + task
After a spell on the night watch, Baraka finally went home to sleep.
Each guard did a four-hour spell before the next one took over.
Zayd did a spell in the kitchen washing dishes during the busy dinner.
Eitan's first spell behind the wheel lasted only twenty minutes.
文法句型
do a spell + at/in + [task]
take a spell + at + [task]
用法筆記
Related to verb sense 3: the two form a pair (the noun 'spell' is the shift; the verb 'spell' is the action of taking over). Often used as 'do a spell' or 'take a spell'.
4. A set of words believed to hold magic power; also, the enchanted condition broug
A set of words believed to hold magic power; also, the enchanted condition brought about by such words.
The witch whispered a spell and the locked door swung open.
whisper/cast a spell (verb collocation)
In the story, a young girl fell under a spell for a hundred years.
under a spell (enchanted state)
Ezra's grandmother claimed the old woman had cast a spell on the cow.
The magician muttered a spell under his breath before the trick.
Breaking the spell required a kiss, according to the fairy tale.
- charm
can refer to the words, an object, or the attractive quality itself
- incantation
formal; refers specifically to the spoken words of a magic ritual
- enchantment
emphasises the state of being under magic rather than the words themselves
文法句型
cast a spell (on someone)
under a spell
break a spell