say Definition
say (sā)
transitive verb said, say′·ing, sayssez
- to utter, pronounce, or speak
- to express in words; state; declare; tell
- to state positively, with assurance, or as an opinion who can say what will be?
- to indicate or show the clock says ten
- to recite; repeat to say one's prayers
- to estimate; assume; hypothesize he is, I'd say, forty
- to allege; report people say he's angry
- to communicate (an idea, feeling, etc.) a painting that says nothing
Etymology: ME seien (< orig. 3d pers. sing., pres. indic.), seggen < OE secgan, akin to sagu, a saying, tale (ON saga), Ger sagen, to say < IE base *sekw-, to note, see, show, say (> see, L inseque (imper.), tell!), orig., to follow > L sequi
intransitive verb
to make a statement; speak; express an opinion
noun
- a chance to speak to have one's say
- power or authority, as to make or help make a final decision: often with the
- Archaic what a person says; dictum
adverb
- for example any fish, say perch
- about; nearly costing, say, 10 dollars
used to express surprise, admiration, etc., or to get someone's attention
say Related Forms
say Idioms
go without saying
to be too obvious to need explanation; be self-evident
that is to say
in other words; that means
to say the least
to understate
you can say that again!
Informal I agree with you!
say Synonyms
say
v.
to say the least
say Usage Examples
Object
- something: He said something similar about those who kill the believers.
- goodbye: The last time this had happened, Marks was dead, and Sparks was saying goodbye.
- anything: Wishing was a showstopper and I can't really say anything which she did less well.
- nothing: He would say nothing about the organization of mental health.
- hello: In conclusion can I say hello to all my friends in GA everywhere.
- yesterday: Its leadership in expanded range of that and we can get a. Software applications for defending its turf newspaper said yesterday.
Preposition: on
label: Straight Up Funk Go Go Style " is what is says on the label and that�s what you get here.
Preposition: that
- government: Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, John Kachamila, said that the government had received as much as legally possible.
- decision: He said that the decision to remake the 2003 TV drama did not betray a poverty of imagination.
Noun phrase with adjective complement
stupid: President Milosevic, in apparent disbelief that anybody could say something so stupid, asked the question again.
Adjective modifier
final: They have no final say in the decision to give you an award and a high ranking from them does not guarantee success.
Adjective complement
- sorry: He sent a note of apology with a £ 5 note to Philadelphia police and phoned to say sorry.
- more: Should sex education in schools say more about homosexuality?
Used with why or when
- what: Unfortunately, he doesn't say what these other issues are.
- that: It went too far to say that believed and averred should not be used when the averment was material to a partyâs case.
- which: The scammed can generous gift said which bought the.
- when: Moss said when questioned at a party about her fur coat, " I wear what I want to wear.
Infinitive complement
have: In the potting shed a butler is said to have hanged himself from the rafters.
Present participle complement
regard: What the report said regarding copyright and licensing is still valid.
Preposition: in
kestrel: Jolen says in kestrel, " You's my fire.
Browse dictionary entries near say
- ‹ saxtuba
- ‹ saxophone
- ‹ Saxony-Anhalt
- ‹ Saxony
- ‹ Saxonism
- ‹ Saxon
- ‹ Saxo Grammaticus
- ‹ saxitoxin
- ‹ saxifrage
- ‹ saxicolous

