say

¹ American  

[sey] / seɪ /

verb (used with object)

said, saying

1. to utter or pronounce; speak.

   What did you say? I said “Hello!”

2. to express in words; state; declare; word.

   Say it clearly and simply. It's hard to know how to say this tactfully.

3. to state as an opinion or judgment.

   I say her plan is the better one.

4. to be certain, precise, or assured about; determine.

   It is hard to say what is wrong.

5. to recite or repeat.

   to say one's prayers.

6. to report or allege; maintain.

   People say he will resign.

7. to express (a message, viewpoint, etc.), as through a literary or other artistic medium.

   a writer with something to say.

8. to indicate or show.

   What does your watch say?

9. to assume as a hypothesis or estimate.

   Let's say, for the sake of argument, that it's true.

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verb (used without object)

said, saying

1. to speak; declare; express an opinion.

adverb

1. approximately; about.

   It's, say, 14 feet long.

2. for example.

   If you serve, say tuna fish and potato chips, it will cost much less.

noun

1. what a person says or has to say.

2. the right or opportunity to speak, decide, or exercise influence.

   to have one's say in choosing the candidate.

3. a turn to say something.

   It is now my say.

interjection

1. (used to express surprise, get attention, etc.)

idioms

1. that is to say. that.

say ² American  

[sey] / seɪ /

verb (used with object)

1. British Dialect. assay.

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say ³ American  

[sey] / seɪ /

noun

1. a thin silk or woolen fabric similar to serge, much used in the 16th century.

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Say ⁴ American  

[sey] / seɪ /

noun

1. Jean Baptiste 1767–1832, French economist.

2. Thomas, 1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.

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say ¹ British  

/ seɪ /

verb

1. to speak, pronounce, or utter

2. (also intr) to express (an idea) in words; tell

   we asked his opinion but he refused to say

3. (also intr; may take a clause as object) to state (an opinion, fact, etc) positively; declare; affirm

4. to recite

   to say grace

5. (may take a clause as object) to report or allege

   they say we shall have rain today

6. (may take a clause as object) to take as an assumption; suppose

   let us say that he is lying

7. (may take a clause as object) to convey by means of artistic expression

   the artist in this painting is saying that we should look for hope

8. to make a case for

   there is much to be said for either course of action

9. (usually passive) to persuade or coax (someone) to do something

   If I hadn't been said by her, I wouldn't be in this fix

10. to be so obvious as to need no explanation

11. informal an exclamation of surprise

12. even; and indeed

13. in other words; more explicitly

14. as well as; even disregarding

    he was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of a thick overcoat

15. without the slightest exaggeration; at the very least

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adverb

1. approximately

   there were, say, 20 people present

2. for example

   choose a number, say, four

noun

1. the right or chance to speak

   let him have his say

2. authority, esp to influence a decision

   he has a lot of say in the company's policy

3. a statement of opinion

   you've had your say, now let me have mine

interjection

1. informal an exclamation to attract attention or express surprise, etc

say ² British  

/ seɪ /

noun

1. archaic a type of fine woollen fabric

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say More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing say

• I dare say
• I'll say
• before you can say Jack Robinson
• cry (say) uncle
• do as I say
• give (say) the word
• go without (saying)
• have a say in
• needless to say
• never say die
• never say never
• not to mention (say nothing of)
• on one's say-so
• said
• strange to say
• suffice it to say
• that is (to say)
• to say the least
• you can say that again
• you don't say

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Other Word Forms

• sayer noun

Etymology

Origin of say¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English seyen, seggen, Old English secgan; cognate with Dutch zeggen, German sagen, Old Norse segja; akin to saw ³

Origin of say²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English saien, sayen, shortening of assaien, assayen to assay

Origin of say³

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sai(e), a kind of serge, from Old French saie, saye “long-skirted coat,” from Medieval Latin saia, sagum, a kind of cloth, from Latin saga, plural of sagum “coarse woolen cloak, soldier's cloak,” from Gaulish sogom

Explanation

To have your say means to get an opportunity to deliver your opinion on something. If you're at a loud and hostile town council meeting, you might not get a chance to have your say unless you shout it. Say means to speak, so any time you utter a word, you're saying it. If you write an editorial about dogs in the paper, that's also a form of saying. Someone could quote you as saying "dogs should be worshipped." You can say something with your body language, too. Like most common words, say is very old, coming from the Old English sęcgan, meaning "to tell."

Example Sentences

Experts say these interactions are vital, and not just emotionally, but biologically too.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Researchers say the animal is a threat to the state’s agriculture and water supply.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

It means "forget me not" in the Sesotho language and is also used to say goodbye.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

About 90% of advisory firms say that they occasionally or regularly waive their minimum asset requirements.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Unwilling to believe, yet smart enough not to say so, Chitto replied, “Good thinking.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• add
• announce
• answer
• assert
• claim
• convey
• declare
• deliver
• disclose
• do
• estimate
• express
• maintain
• mention
• read
• repeat
• reply
• report
• respond
• reveal