say

[ sey ]

/ seɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR say ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), said, say·ing.

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, say·ing.

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.)

Idioms for say

that is to say. that(def 16).

Origin of say

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

say·er, noun

Words nearby say

saxonism, saxony, saxony-anhalt, saxophone, saxtuba, say, say (cry) uncle, say a mouthful, say grace, say one's piece, say the word

Definition for say (2 of 4)

say ²

[ 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)

say ³

[ 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.

British Dictionary definitions for say (1 of 2)

say ¹

/ (seɪ) /

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

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) Irish to persuade or coax (someone) to do something If 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 disregarding he 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

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

US and Canadian informal an exclamation to attract attention or express surprise, etc

Derived forms of say

sayer, noun

Word Origin for say

Old English secgan; related to Old Norse segja, Old Saxon seggian, Old High German sagēn

British Dictionary definitions for say (2 of 2)

say ²

/ (seɪ) /

noun

archaic a type of fine woollen fabric

Word Origin for say

C13: from Old French saie, from Latin saga, plural of sagum a type of woollen cloak

Idioms and Phrases with say

say

In addition to the idioms beginning with say

say a mouthful
say grace
say one's piece
says who?
say the word
say uncle

also see:

before you can say Jack Robinson
cry (say) uncle
do as I say
give (say) the word
go without (saying)
have a say in
I dare say
I'll say
needless to say
never say die
never say never
not to mention (say nothing of)
on one's say-so
strange to say
suffice it to say
that is (to say)
to say the least
you can say that again
you don't say

Also see undersaid.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

say

verb (used with object), said, say·ing.

verb (used without object), said, say·ing.

adverb

noun

interjection

Idioms for say

Origin of say

OTHER WORDS FROM say

Words nearby say

Definition for say (2 of 4)

verb (used with object), noun British Dialect.

Origin of say

Definition for say (3 of 4)

noun

Origin of say

Definition for say (4 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for say (1 of 2)

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

adverb

noun

interjection

Derived forms of say

Word Origin for say

British Dictionary definitions for say (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for say

Idioms and Phrases with say

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

say

verb (used with object), said, say·ing.

verb (used without object), said, say·ing.

adverb

noun

interjection

Idioms for say

Origin of say

OTHER WORDS FROM say

Words nearby say

Definition for say (2 of 4)

verb (used with object), noun British Dialect.

Origin of say

Definition for say (3 of 4)

noun

Origin of say

Definition for say (4 of 4)

noun

Content related to say

Words related to say

British Dictionary definitions for say (1 of 2)

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

adverb

noun

interjection

Derived forms of say

Word Origin for say

British Dictionary definitions for say (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for say

Idioms and Phrases with say