to utter or pronounce; speak.
What did you say? I said “Hello!”
to express in words; state; declare; word.
Say it clearly and simply. It's hard to know how to say this tactfully.
to state as an opinion or judgment.
I say her plan is the better one.
to be certain, precise, or assured about; determine.
It is hard to say what is wrong.
to recite or repeat.
to say one's prayers.
to report or allege; maintain.
People say he will resign.
to express (a message, viewpoint, etc.), as through a literary or other artistic medium.
a writer with something to say.
to indicate or show.
What does your watch say?
to assume as a hypothesis or estimate.
Let's say, for the sake of argument, that it's true.
It's, say, 14 feet long.
for example.
If you serve, say tuna fish and potato chips, it will cost much less.
what a person says or has to say.
the right or opportunity to speak, decide, or exercise influence.
to have one's say in choosing the candidate.
a turn to say something.
It is now my say.
Jean Baptiste 1767–1832, French economist.
Thomas, 1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.
to speak, pronounce, or utter
(also intr) to express (an idea) in words; tell
we asked his opinion but he refused to say
(also intr; may take a clause as object) to state (an opinion, fact, etc) positively; declare; affirm
to recite
to say grace
(may take a clause as object) to report or allege
they say we shall have rain today
(may take a clause as object) to take as an assumption; suppose
let us say that he is lying
(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
to make a case for
there is much to be said for either course of action
(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
to be so obvious as to need no explanation
informal an exclamation of surprise
even; and indeed
in other words; more explicitly
as well as; even disregarding
he was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of a thick overcoat
without the slightest exaggeration; at the very least
approximately
there were, say, 20 people present
for example
choose a number, say, four
the right or chance to speak
let him have his say
authority, esp to influence a decision
he has a lot of say in the company's policy
a statement of opinion
you've had your say, now let me have mine
First recorded before 900; Middle English seyen, seggen, Old English secgan; cognate with Dutch zeggen, German sagen, Old Norse segja; akin to saw 3
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English saien, sayen, shortening of assaien, assayen to assay
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
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."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The shop is a nonprofit owned by SAY Detroit, with 100% of profits supporting local programs, including clinics, housing, and youth education.
From Salon • Sep. 3, 2025
SAY CHEESE: This one might give an audiophile a heart attack, but that doesn’t make it any less adorable.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2023
Shortly after Stafford was traded to the Rams, he and his wife pledged another $1 million to build a new education center with SAY Detroit.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2022
But here’s the thing: They SAY they’re straight.
From Slate • May 26, 2020
“Why didn’t you SAY you could hear me?”
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
