saying
Americannoun
-
sayings
plural
idioms
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing saying
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
One Idea, Part 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
See Examples For:
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey paid tribute to Rockefeller's decades of service, saying he had left "a lasting mark on the lives of generations of West Virginians."
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
The company lifted its sales outlook for the year, saying it expects revenue to grow as much as 25% in 2026.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
BBC Wales spoke to young people in Cardiff who said they supported the proposed ban, with one 17-year-old saying it was "really easy to start relying on them".
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
I am merely saying that this index is not really diversified.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
I keep scarfing down the milkshake instead of saying anything.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
But in “Christmas at the Kringles,” the Christmas theme is the lowest common denominator, present only as gaudy decoration, creepy song cues and vulgarly re-appropriated sayings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
The following year, Pulte even produced a slim volume annotating some of his grandfather’s sayings and quotations.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
The Soviet Union was a land of shortages, but there was no shortage of acerbic sayings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 6, 2026
Highlander Hart's sister, Jamie Hart-Dobbs, still vividly remembers one of his regular sayings about Army life: "They taught me how to go to war, they didn't teach me how to come back from it."
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2025
Every man’s favorite nuncle, fidl of chuckles and old sayings and mughspun wisdom.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
