telling
word
/ˈtɛɫɪŋ/
TEL-ing
/tˈɛlɪŋ/
TEL-ing
Definition
Showing or revealing something important or true, especially facts or emotions that cannot be hidden.
Usage & Nuances
Often used in formal or descriptive contexts. Common collocations: "telling evidence", "telling sign", and "telling glance". Not used as a verb here, but as an adjective or gerund form of 'tell'. Can imply something subtle but important revealed.
Spanish: significativo - reveladorPortuguese (BR): revelador - expressivoPortuguese (PT): revelador - expressivoChinese (Simplified): 有力的 - 显示真实情况的Chinese (Traditional): 有力的 - 顯示真實情況的Hindi: प्रभावशाली - बताने वालाArabic: مؤثر - دال على الحقيقةBengali: স্পষ্ট - সূচিতRussian: говорящий - выразительный - показательныйJapanese: 示唆的 - 意味深いVietnamese: tiết lộ - nói lên - cho thấy rõKorean: 의미심장한 - 드러내는Turkish: anlamlı - belirginUrdu: واضح - معنی خیز - ظاہر کرنے والاIndonesian: mengungkapkan - menunjukkan (makna tersembunyi)
Example Sentences
That was a telling comment about how he really feels.
natural
Her silence was very telling about her true feelings.
basic
The detective found a telling clue at the crime scene.
basic
Her telling glance told me everything I needed to know.
basic
Her reaction was very telling during the interview.
natural
Those details are quite telling about the situation.
natural