Spell Meaning, Definition, and Synonyms

Spell is a very common English word with several unrelated meanings. It can mean to indicate or suggest something, to say or write letters in the correct order, a magical incantation, or a short period of time. Because these senses are different, the best synonyms depend on which meaning you want.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /spɛl/

Easy pronunciation: SPELL (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable, stressed.

Verb meaning to indicate or signify, as in 'This spells trouble'.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Spell Meaning

to mean or suggest something

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to indicate or signify

Example: I'm afraid this spells trouble!

Synonyms for this meaning:

import — Works in the sense of ‘mean’ or ‘signify,’ but it is more formal and less common than spell in everyday English.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Spell

Meaning 2

words used in magic

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a verbal formula believed to have magical force

Example: He whispered a spell as he moved his hands.

Synonyms for this meaning:

charm — Can work as a magical term, though it is broader and not always interchangeable.
magic spell — A direct phrase for this magical meaning.
magical spell — A direct phrase for this magical meaning.

Meaning 3

to form a word with the correct letters

Part of speech: verb

Definition: write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)

Example: He spelled the word wrong in this letter.

Synonyms for this meaning:

write — Related, but broader than spell and not a true substitute in every context.

Meaning 4

a hypnotic or enchanted state

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation

Example: The music seemed to put the crowd under a spell.

Synonyms for this meaning:

enchantment — Works for the magical or captivating sense, but is not always identical.
trance — Works when the meaning is a hypnotic or absorbed state.

Meaning 5

a shift or turn at work

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

Example: She had a long spell of work.

Synonyms for this meaning:

go — Can mean a turn or stint in some contexts, but is informal and less exact.
tour — Used in some work contexts, but more limited and not always natural.
turn — A genuine substitute when spell means a working turn.

Meaning 6

a short period of time

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition

Example: We had a spell of good weather.

Synonyms for this meaning:

patch — Common in phrases like a spell of bad weather or a rough patch.
piece — Can fit some informal time-period uses, but is less precise.
while — Works only in some contexts and is broader than spell.

Meaning 7

to say how a word is spelled

Part of speech: verb

Definition: orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

Example: How do you spell this word?

Synonyms for this meaning:

spell out — A direct substitute when giving letters one by one.

Meaning 8

to take over someone’s work for a while

Part of speech: verb

Definition: relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn

Example: She spelled her husband at the wheel.

Meaning 9

to work in shifts or turns

Part of speech: verb

Definition: take turns working

Example: The workers spell every four hours.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Spell Synonyms

Similar Meaning

import

magical incantation

charm
magic spell
magical spell

to form a word with the correct letters

write

a hypnotic or enchanted state

enchantment
trance

a shift or working turn

turn

a short period of time

patch

to say the letters of a word

spell out

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Spell does not always mean ‘a short time’; that sense is a noun.
Spell can mean ‘to indicate’ in phrases like ‘spell trouble,’ but it is not the same as the noun meaning ‘magic spell.’
Spell out is a phrase meaning ‘say the letters,’ not the same as the noun spell.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does spell mean in "spell trouble"?

Here spell means ‘mean’ or ‘suggest.’ It shows that something is likely to lead to trouble.

Is spell a noun or a verb?

It can be both. As a verb, it can mean ‘mean,’ ‘write letters,’ or ‘say the letters of a word.’ As a noun, it can mean ‘a magical incantation’ or ‘a short period of time.’

What is the most common meaning of spell?

The most common everyday meanings are the verb ‘to write or say the letters of a word’ and the noun meaning ‘a short period of time,’ depending on context.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.