say

[ sey ]

/ seɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR say ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), said [sed], /sɛd/, say·ing [sey-ing]. /ˈseɪ ɪŋ/.

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 [sed], /sɛd/, say·ing [sey-ing]. /ˈseɪ ɪŋ/.

to speak; declare; express an opinion.

adverb

approximately; about: 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

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

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!

Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for say

that is to say. that (def. 16).

Origin of say

First recorded before 900; Middle English seyen, seggen, Old English secgan; cognate with Dutch zeggen, German sagen, Old Norse segja; akin to saw³

OTHER WORDS FROM say

sayer, noun

Definition for say (2 of 4)

say²

[ sey ]

/ seɪ /

verb (used with object), noun British Dialect.

assay.

Origin of say

1350–1400; Middle English sayen, aphetic variant of assayen to assay

Definition for say (3 of 4)

say³

[ sey ]

/ seɪ /

noun

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

Origin of say

1250–1300; Middle English <Old French saie<Latin saga, plural of sagum woolen cloak, said to be <Gaulish

Definition for say (4 of 4)

Say

[ sey ]

/ seɪ /

noun

Jean Bap·tiste

[zhahn ba-teest], /ʒɑ̃ baˈtist/, 1767–1832, French economist.Compare Say's law.

Thomas, 1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for say

An important episode soon took place among the French, usually known as the "Sayer Affair."
The Romantic Settlement of Lord Selkirk's Colonists|George Bryce
Captains Sayer and Currie, who were also wheeled past, received similar sympathy.
The Public Life of Queen Victoria|John McGilchrist
Sayer and the rest in our junck, offring my service to hym in what is in my power.
Diary of Richard Cocks Vol. I|Richard Cocks
From this time Sayer, who adopted all Pitts virulence towards Fox, made the latter a continual subject of his satire.
A History of Caricature and Grotesque|Thomas Wright

Prince Metternich is said to be the sayer of "After me the Deluge."
Notes and Queries, Number 77, April 19, 1851|Various

British Dictionary definitions for say (1 of 2)

say¹

/ (seɪ) /

verb says (sɛz), saying or said (mainly tr)

to speak, pronounce, or utter

(also intr) to express (an idea) in words; tellwe 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 reciteto say grace

(may take a clause as object) to report or allegethey say we shall have rain today

(may take a clause as object) to take as an assumption; supposelet us say that he is lying

(may take a clause as object) to convey by means of artistic expressionthe artist in this painting is saying that we should look for hope

to make a case forthere is much to be said for either course of action

(usually passive) Irish to persuade or coax (someone) to do somethingIf I hadn't been said by her, I wouldn't be in this fix

go without saying to be so obvious as to need no explanation

I say! mainly British informal an exclamation of surprise

not to say even; and indeed

that is to say in other words; more explicitly

to say nothing of as well as; even disregardinghe was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of a thick overcoat

to say the least without the slightest exaggeration; at the very least