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Synonyms

saying

American  
[sey-ing] / ˈseɪ ɪŋ /

noun

  1. something said, especially a proverb or apothegm.

    Synonyms:
    aphorism, saw, adage, maxim

idioms

  1. go without saying, to be completely self-evident; be understood.

    It goes without saying that you are welcome to visit us at any time.
saying British  
/ ˈseɪɪŋ /

noun

  1. a maxim, adage, or proverb

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of saying

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (gerund); see say 1, -ing 1

Explanation

A short, common, and easy-to-remember phrase is a saying. When class ends right before your turn to give a speech, you might use the saying, "Saved by the bell!" A saying is basically the same as an aphorism, an adage, or a proverb, usually offering some kind of wisdom. If you accidentally break your sister's favorite teacup, you might think of the saying "To err is human, to forgive divine," which means that everyone makes mistakes but only truly remarkable people are able to forgive these mistakes. You should probably also remind yourself of the saying, "Honesty is the best policy."

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Vocabulary lists containing saying

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Saying too much more would spoil all of the fun to be had, but the banana is only the beginning.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Saying that the Bank is in "wait and see" mode, is an understatement.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Saying that “you don’t dress for the occasion” is extremely vague.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 28, 2026

Saying yes was the path of least resistance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Saying that wasn’t exactly lying, but it still made Nathan a little bit uncomfortable.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

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.