say
/seɪ
/verb (says /sɛz/; past and past participle said /sɛd/)
1 [reporting verb] Utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction: [with direct speech]: ‘Thank you,’ he said [with clause]: he said the fund stood at £100,000 [with object]: our parents wouldn’t believe a word we said [with infinitive]: he said to come early...
- All of us at some time in our lives have to stand up and say a few words in public, whether to give away a bride, move a vote of thanks or make a presentation.
- He struggled to recall clearly the words the priest had said to him almost a year earlier.
- Only now as I stood in the airport did I realise that she really had not understood a word I was saying.
Synonyms
speak, utter, voice, pronounce, give utterance to, give voice to, vocalize
declare, state, announce;
remark, observe, mention, comment, note, add;
reply, respond, answer, rejoin;
whisper, mutter, mumble, mouth
informal come out with
claim, maintain, assert, hold, insist, contend, aver, affirm, avow;
allege, profess
formal opine
rare asseverate
express, put into words, phrase, articulate, communicate, make known, get across, put across, convey, verbalize, render, tell;
reveal, divulge, impart, disclose;
imply, suggest, signify, denote, mean
adduce, propose, advance, bring forward, offer, plead
1.1(Of a text or a symbolic representation) convey specified information or instructions: [with clause]: the Act says such behaviour is an offence...
- Chris, in a murder case we know the black and white letter of the law says the state does not have to prove motive.
- The text of the affidavit says that it was completed and signed by her.
- I got a text saying I had won £1000 and all I had to do was claim it by calling a number.
1.2 [with object] Enable a listener or reader to learn or understand something by conveying or revealing (information or ideas): I don’t want to say too much figurative her rise and fall says a lot about our brutal political system the film’s title says it all...
- The title says it all, because this is certainly a lot less dangerous.
- This is arguably the most persuasive riposte to the erroneous notion that Western cinema says it all.
- She says more in twenty-five words than many writers do in a thousand.
1.3 [with object] (Of a clock or watch) indicate (a specified time): the clock says ten past two...
- The sun was still behind a mountain, but his watch said seven minutes past official sunup.
- My back was damp from the moss and my watch said four hours had passed.
- She turns and looks at her alarm clock which says eight o'clock.
Synonyms
indicate, show, read
1.4 (be said) Be asserted or reported: [with infinitive]: they were said to be training freedom fighters [with clause]: it is said that she lived to over a hundred...
- The author of the report that was said to be prejudicial was called as a witness.
- They also adduced what was said to be a report from the local Meteorological Station.
- His failure, it is said, calls into question his motives in serving as a juror in the trial.
1.5 [with object] (say something for) Present a consideration in favour of or excusing (someone or something): all I can say for him is that he’s a better writer than some...
- Looking forward, he hopes the weather improves but says the prospects for milk prices don't look good.
- Well, it says a lot for a man in his early twenties to be able to give a voice to that indescribable pain that every adolescent girl experiences.
- Well, there is something to be said for watching a film on a 30 foot tall screen with surround sound.
1.6 [with object] Utter the whole of (a speech or other set of words, typically one learned in advance): the padre finished saying the Nunc Dimittis...
- The funeral goes as planned, everyone says their speeches memorializing this woman to whom they now say goodbye forever.
- See, the difference between saying a speech in class and acting with my group is a really big one.
- Cameron had to say his speech in front of the class and he basically freaked out.
Synonyms
recite, repeat, utter, deliver, perform, declaim, orate
2 [with clause] Assume something in order to work out what its consequences would be; make a hypothesis: let’s say we pay in five thousand pounds in the first year
Synonyms
suppose, assume, imagine, presume, take as a hypothesis, hypothesize, postulate, posit
2.1Used parenthetically to indicate that something is being suggested as possible or likely but not certain: the form might include, say, a dozen questions...
- Then go find someone else in a different line of work - say, someone with a home office.
- In this system, the taoiseach would be elected for a fixed term - say, four years.
- This scheme lends itself to the use of coins as scoring tokens; say, a nickel per point perhaps.
exclamation North American informal
Used to express surprise or to draw attention to a remark or question: say, did you notice any blood?
noun [in singular]
1An opportunity for stating one’s opinion or feelings: she let him have his say...
- Listeners to radio will also be given an opportunity to have their say through phone-ins.
- Speaking as a politician at any venue is merely an opportunity for that man to have his say.
- And if you want to have your say, exchange ideas, opinions and experiences, it's the only place to be.
Synonyms
right/chance/turn to speak, right/chance/turn to express one's opinion, vote, opinion, view, voice
informal one's twopence worth, one's twopenn'orth
1.1An opportunity to influence developments and policy: the assessor will have a say in how the money is spent [mass noun]: the households concerned would still have some say in what happened...
- Real partnership means all participants benefit and all have a say in developments.
- Can you also explain why Industry has a say in policy development.
- Lastly, keep in mind that children like variation and to have a say in what they do.
Synonyms
influence, sway, weight, authority, voice, input, share, part
informal clout
Phrases
go without saying
have something to say for oneself
having said that
how say you?
I (or he, she, etc.) cannot (or could not) say
I'll say
I must (or have to) say
I say
I wouldn't say no
not to say
say no more
says I (or he, she etc.)
says you!
say when
say the word
that is to say
there is no saying
they say
to say nothing of
what do (or would) you say
when all is said and done
who says ——?
you can say that again!
you don't say (or you don't say so)!
you (or you've) said it!
Derivatives
sayable
- The challenge of translating the richness and complexity of Aeschylus's language into a poetically charged but sayable English that was still faithful to the original Greek did indeed distract me from the pain that I was living through.
- She pushes the limits of what is sayable, pushes the limits of language, and with them, the limits of law.
- What someone from one culture is thinking may not be fully sayable in the language of another culture.
sayer
[usually in combination]: nay-sayers...
- Until recently, our committee was full of sayers, not doers, and we didn't exactly work overtime to encourage youngsters to flock to the club.
- And before you know it, you'll hear all the nay-sayers talking about something else.
- Industrial interests are as capable of suppression as individual nay-sayers.
Origin
Old English secgan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeggen and German sagen.
Old English secgan is of Germanic origin, related to Dutch zeggen and German sagen. Say, speak, and tell are near-synonyms but say is usually followed by the words or statement actually said, giving the verb the sense ‘utter, declare’. When all is said and done dates from the mid 16th century; to say it with flowers was an early 20th century advertising slogan of the Society of American Florists. You can say that again was originally a US usage from the 1940s. The phrase I say, I say, I say to introduce a joke is first recorded from the 1960s.