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)
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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.
See Examples For:
“I need it to be the first thing I see when I wake up,” Lee recalled him saying, “and the last thing I see when I go to bed.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Our critic praised the presentation, saying “‘The Ark’ underscores why humanity has always been enamored with the animal kingdom, and reminds us that our stewardship of it should be a labor of love.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
At least 10 senior Fannie Mae employees are leaving the secondary mortgage giant, with a senior administration official saying they were terminated.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
He had announced his retirement on Tuesday, saying his understanding of the paper's value and mission differed in "fundamental ways" from the Pentagon's plans for the publication.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
I close my mouth, unwilling to admit that what she’s saying might be my real truth, because admitting it will make it harder for me to protect myself with the lies I’m so comfortable with.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
The following year, Pulte even produced a slim volume annotating some of his grandfather’s sayings and quotations.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
Reading Mr. Sternberg’s column brought back memories of one of my father’s many sayings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
We remember the heritage of it and one of our sayings and values that we go for is 'do it for the girls'.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2025
One of Cronin’s favorite sayings is that everything he does is in preparation for March.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2025
The challenges posed by her new pupils put her in mind of one of the more well-known sayings of Agatha Swanburne.
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
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.
