say

SAY/seɪ/

Formssays, saying, said

Often confused with tell

16 meanings of say

Practice

1
expressverbtransitive
To tell someone something in words, by speaking or writing.
My sister said in her text that she'd be late for dinner.
What did you say to her?
UsageSay it to a person: she said to me. Without to, use told: she told me.
Similarstate, report, mention
Note
2
rumorverbtransitive
Used with 'they', or as 'it is said', to pass on a common belief or rumor.
They say it's bad luck to open an umbrella indoors.
It is said that the house is haunted.
UsageYou can also say: she is said to be very rich.
Similarclaim, reckon, allege, maintain
Note
3
verbtransitive
To show some information, used about a sign, clock or letter.
The sign says it's fifty kilometers to Paris.
What time does the clock say?
UsageYou can say: the note says to wait, or it says on the box that batteries are included.
Similarindicate, read, state, show, specify
Note
4
verbtransitive
To speak words out loud, including repeating set words such as a prayer or a poem.
The baby is starting to say a few simple words like mama.
Can you say this word for me?
Similarpronounce, utter, speak, recite, repeat
5
for exampleadverb
For example, or as a rough guess.
Pick a color they'd like, say, peach.
He was driving fast, say, fifty miles an hour.
UsagePut commas around it: come at, say, six.
Similarroughly, approximately, about, around
Oppositeexactly, precisely
Note

Less common meanings

6
voice in decisionnouncountable
The chance to give your opinion, or the power to help decide.
Everyone should have a say in the decision.
The tenants want more say over repairs.
UsageSay have a say in something, or have the final say.
Similarvoice, vote, input, influence
7
pretend thatverbcolloquialtransitiveimperative
Used at the start of a sentence to ask someone to imagine something, like 'suppose'.
Say you won a million dollars. What would you buy first?
Say your family is starving, is it right to steal?
Similarsuppose, assume, imagine
Note
8
revealverbtransitive
Of a look, a movement, an action or a fact, to show something without using words.
The look on her face said she was not happy.
Empty seats say a lot about how bad the show was.
UsageCommon phrases: that says it all; it says a lot about him.
Similarconvey, reveal, show, tell
Note
9
heyinterjectioncolloquialUS
A word used to get someone's attention before a question or idea.
Say, what did you think of the movie?
Say, could you pass me that wrench?
Similarhey, look
Note
10
betverbcolloquialtransitive
Used about money you would bet, to show you feel sure something will happen.
Ten dollars says it rains on the day of our picnic.
Five bucks says the bus is late again this morning.
UsagePeople use it to sound sure, even with no real bet.
Note
11
verbobsoletetransitive
To try or test something, an old shortened form of 'assay'.
I, that had sayed on one of his customers sutes.
1600, Ben Jonson, “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue.”Here, sayed means tried or tested, trying something on.
Similarassay, test, try
Note
12
nounobsoletecountable
An old word for a try or attempt.
Similarattempt, try, essay, stab, go (entry)
Note
13
nounobsoletecountable
An old word for a sample or test.
Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes.
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”Here, say means a sample or sign of something.
Similarsample, taste, specimen, assay
Note
14
nounobsoleteuncountable
An old word for the proven quality or strength of something.
He found a sword of better say.
1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, say means proven quality or strength.
Similarquality, temper, proof, mettle
Note
15
clothnouncountable or uncountable
An old kind of fine woolen cloth, like serge.
Long ago, tailors made jackets and skirts from a light wool cloth called say.
The merchant sold say and serge by the yard.
Note
16
milk strainernoundialectalScotlandcountable
In Scotland, a strainer for milk.
She poured the milk through the say into the pail.
The say hung on a nail by the dairy door.
Similarstrainer, sieve
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of say apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–10

This word comes from Old English "secgan," meaning "to say" or "speak." It goes back to older Germanic roots.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Say derives from Old English secgan, meaning to say or speak. en.wiktionary.org
The word has older Germanic roots. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 15

This word comes from Latin "sagum," meaning a military cloak, through Middle French "saie."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

This sense of "say" derives from Latin "sagum" through Middle French "saie". en.wiktionary.org
Latin "sagum" means a military cloak. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 11–14

This is a shortened form of the word "assay."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Say, meaning to try or a trial, is a shortened form of assay. en.wiktionary.org