DictionaryAI

saying

SAY-ing/ˈseɪ.ɪŋ/

Noun pluralsayings

3 meanings of saying

Practice

  1. 1
    statingverb
    Present participle of say. Use this form for an action in progress or as the name of the action.

    She kept saying she was fine, but I didn't believe her.

    Saying sorry can be hard for a lot of people.

    Note
  2. 2
    proverbnouncountable
    A short, well-known expression that gives advice or states a general truth.

    Like a small lesson packed into one easy-to-remember sentence.

    My grandmother had a favorite saying about working hard and never giving up.

    There's an old saying that good things come to those who wait.

    UsageOften as the saying goes or there's an old saying.

    Similarproverb, adage, maxim, aphorism, expression

    Note
  3. 3
    nounobsolete
    Something that a person says out loud, a spoken remark.
    And I'll be sworn you would believe my saying, Howe'er you lean to th' nayward.
    c. 1610, William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”Here, saying means what I say out loud, my spoken words.
    Note

saying is a form of say

say, verb: To tell someone something in words, by speaking or writing. Full entry

Forms
saysays he/she/itsaying -ing formsaid past tense, past participle
Spelling
say → saying: add -ing

Use it in a sentence

Write your own sentence with saying, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.

Origin

It comes from the word "say" plus the ending "-ing".

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact