say
verb (used with object)
to utter or pronounce; speak.
say
1 American
[say]
/ seɪ /
verb (used with object)
said,
saying
-
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.
verb (used without object)
said,
saying
adverb
-
It's, say, 14 feet long.
-
for example.
If you serve, say tuna fish and potato chips, it will cost much less.
noun
-
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.
interjection
idioms
say
2
American
[say]
/ seɪ /
verb (used with object)
say
3
American
[say]
/ seɪ /
noun
Say
4
American
[say]
/ seɪ /
noun
-
Jean Baptiste 1767–1832, French economist.
-
Thomas, 1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.
say
1
British
/ seɪ /
verb
-
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
adverb
-
approximately
there were, say, 20 people present
-
for example
choose a number, say, four
noun
-
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
interjection
say
2
British
/ seɪ /
noun
say
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
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
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:
Analysts say the slowdown could likely continue until memory prices start to fall.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
“For the gas market, de-escalation is crucial, as LNG flows from the region haven’t recovered as much as on the oil side,” analysts at ING say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Others say it will take new ideas and big swings that can be challenging in a city where the mayor has only limited powers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
Election experts say occasional problems with touch-screen machines don’t signify tampering or manipulation.
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2026
“And a horse saved us,” I say proudly.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
If “rinse and repeat” doesn’t work, try the “gray rock” approach: Say and do very little or even nothing in response to any follow-up queries from her.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
Say that’s the going rate for a franchise quarterback, even if those transactions seldom happen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
He then offered a fictitious example: "Say we put forward Karwan, yeah? Then fine come on Karwan's name. Karwan not here, Karwan in Iraq."
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Say goodbye, though, to Tesla, which will now inevitably disappear forever into SpaceX and Musk’s dream of a galactic mega-entity.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026
“First,” said Mr. Jaggers, “you should have some new clothes to come in, and they should not be working-clothes. Say this day week. You’ll want some money. Shall I leave you twenty guineas?”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
The report said that CEO Josh D’Amaro plans to reinvest savings into technology, programming for TV and movies, and the company’s theme parks and cruise businesses.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Streaming is “the digital version of finding your parents’ record collection”—and falling in love with it, said David Galea, an agent at UTA whose roster includes the Fray and the All-American Rejects.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Palantir’s management said difficult quarter-on-quarter comparisons —owing to an exceptionally robust period ended June — and shorter contract durations as headwinds to bookings growth.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
“It strikes me so much when I see a dad and a son or a dad and a daughter at a show,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
“Girl, you know that’s grown folks’ business, like I said.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
“Enough, people are saying they see a slowdown in Palantir’s business,” he wrote in a post on X early Tuesday morning.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
The researchers aren’t saying don’t invest in China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Bass has publicly backed Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, saying the Police Department could be thrown into disarray if he is removed before the 2028 Olympic Games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters late last month that the department was considering additional actions, saying there were “a number of states that we’re looking at.”
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2026
Auntie makes a point of saying, “Old Town Alexandria,” so people will know it’s the posh area with homes that are on the historic register.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
