- a maxim, adage, or proverb
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
say•ing /ˈseɪɪŋ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- something said, esp. a proverb:the old saying, "A stitch in time saves nine.''
say•ing
(sā′ing),USA pronunciation n.
- something said, esp. a proverb or apothegm.
- Idioms go without saying, to be completely self-evident;
be understood:It goes without saying that you are welcome to visit us at any time.
- 1250–1300; Middle English (gerund, gerundive); see say1, -ing1
- 1. maxim, adage, saw, aphorism.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
saying /ˈseɪɪŋ/ n
say1 /seɪ/USA pronunciation
v., said/sɛd/USA pronunciation say•ing, adv., n., interj.
v.
adv.
n. [uncountable]
interj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to utter or pronounce;
speak:[~ + object]Don't say a word. - to express (something) in words;
declare: [~ + (that) clause]I wrote and said (that) I wanted to see her again.[used with quotations]"I'll be there,'' he said.[~ + object]I've said my piece (= I've expressed my thoughts). - to state (something) as an opinion or judgment: [~ + (that) clause]I say (that) we should wait here.[no object]What should I do? I just can't say.
- to recite or repeat:[~ + object]said his prayers and went to bed.
- to express (a message, etc.), as through words, etc.:[~ + object]What does this painting say to you?
- to indicate or show:[~ + object]What does your watch say? The clock says ten-thirty.
- (used as a command, or as a polite command after let's) suppose;
assume;
imagine:[~ + (that) clause]Say (that) you saw her on the street; what would you do then? Let's say (that) I had gambled all our money away.
adv.
- approximately;
about:It's, say, 14 feet across. - for example:Suppose we asked a student, say, Janette here, for her opinion.
n. [uncountable]
- what a person says or wishes to say;
one's turn to say something:She has already had her say. - the right or chance to state an opinion or exercise influence:to have one's say in a decision.
interj.
- (used to express surprise or to get someone's attention):Say! That's great; you made it!
- Idioms go without saying, [it/that + ~ (+ (that) clause)] to be self-evident:It goes without saying (that) you must write a thank-you note for a gift.
- Idioms that is to say, [no object] in other words;
meaning (that):The judge threw the book at him; that is to say, gave him the maximum sentence.
- The verbs say and tell are sometimes confused. The verb say does not take a person as its direct object, only a word or clause:He said a few words and sat down.If a person is mentioned after say, the word to must be used before it:He said to her that he was ready.The verb tell may take a person as an object:He told her he was ready.
say1
(sā),USA pronunciation v., said, say•ing, adv., n., interj.
v.t.
v.i.
adv.
n.
interj.
say′er, n.
say2 (sā),USA pronunciation v.t., n. [Brit. Dial.]
say3 (sā),USA pronunciation n.
Say (sā),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- 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.
v.i.
- to speak;
declare;
express an opinion. - Idioms that is to say, that is what is meant;
in other words:I believe his account of the story, that is to say, I have no reason to doubt it.
adv.
- approximately;
about:It's, say, 14 feet long. - for example:If you serve, say tuna fish and potato chips, it will cost much less.
n.
- 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.
interj.
- (used to express surprise, get attention, etc.)
- bef. 900; Middle English seyen, seggen, Old English secgan; cognate with Dutch zeggen, German sagen, Old Norse segja; akin to saw3
say2 (sā),USA pronunciation v.t., n. [Brit. Dial.]
- British Termsassay.
- Middle English sayen, aphetic variant of assayen to assay 1350–1400
say3 (sā),USA pronunciation n.
- Textilesa thin silk or woolen fabric similar to serge, much used in the 16th century.
- Gaulish
- Latin saga, plural of sagum woolen cloak, said to be
- Old French saie
- Middle English 1250–1300
Say (sā),USA pronunciation n.
- Biographical Thomas, 1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
say /seɪ/ vb (says /sɛz/, saying
- to speak, pronounce, or utter
- (also intr) to express (an idea) in words; tell
- (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
- to make a case for
- go without saying ⇒ to be so obvious as to need no explanation
- I say! ⇒ chiefly Brit informal an exclamation of surprise
- not to say ⇒ even; and indeed
- that is to say ⇒ in other words; more explicitly
- to say the least ⇒ without the slightest exaggeration; at the very least
- approximately: there were, say, 20 people present
- for example: choose a number, say, four
- the right or chance to speak: let him have his say
- authority, esp to influence a decision: she has a lot of say in the company's policy
- a statement of opinion: you've had your say, now let me have mine
- US Canadian informal an exclamation to attract attention or express surprise, etc
'saying' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
adage
- allegedly
- aphorism
- bromide
- byword
- diction
- dictum
- eulogy
- facetious
- French leave
- gainsay
- go on
- haeremai
- hello
- it's
- motto
- neologism
- placet
- prayer rug
- preface
- proverb
- quip
- refrain
- reticent
- retort
- saw
- say
- shush
- talaq
- talk
- unsay
- vacuity
- valediction
- wisdom
- with
- ability
- ahankara
- altarage
- am
- ana
- apothegm
- aquamanile
- bioassay
- blankly
- bon mot
- chantry
- commonplace
- cynical
- dig
- enigma