say meaning

UK /seɪ/ US /seɪ/ 1 syllable

say (verb): express in words.

say has 12 meanings in this dictionary, as verb and noun.

say as a verb

  1. express in words
    • He said that he wanted to marry her
    • tell me what is bothering you
    • state your opinion
    • state your name

    Synonyms: state, tell

    Type of: express

    Kinds: present, misstate, answer, precede, announce, articulate, get out, declare, note, add, explain, give

  2. report or maintain
    • He alleged that he was the victim of a crime
    • He said it was too late to intervene in the war
    • The registrar says that I owe the school money

    Synonyms: allege, aver

    Type of: assert

    Kinds: plead

  3. express a supposition
    • Let us say that he did not tell the truth
    • Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?

    Synonyms: suppose

    Type of: speculate

  4. have or contain a certain wording or form
    • The passage reads as follows
    • What does the law say?

    Synonyms: read

    Type of: have

  5. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
    • I said to him to go home
    • She ordered him to do the shopping
    • The mother told the child to get dressed

    Synonyms: order, tell, enjoin

    Type of: request

    Kinds: direct, instruct, command, call, warn, prescribe

  6. speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
    • She pronounces French words in a funny way
    • I cannot say `zip wire'
    • Can the child sound out this complicated word?

    Synonyms: pronounce, articulate, enounce, sound out, enunciate

    Kinds: twang, devoice, raise, lilt, palatalize, nasalize, mispronounce, aspirate, voice, retroflex, subvocalize, syllabize

  7. communicate or express nonverbally
    • What does this painting say?
    • Did his face say anything about how he felt?

    Type of: convey

  8. utter aloud
    • She said `Hello' to everyone in the office

    Type of: express

  9. state as one's opinion or judgement; declare
    • I say let's forget this whole business
  10. recite or repeat a fixed text
    • Say grace
    • She said her `Hail Mary'

    Type of: recite

    Related forms: saying

  11. indicate
    • The clock says noon

    Type of: read

say as a noun

  1. the chance to speak
    • let him have his say

    Type of: opportunity

say in a sentence

How to pronounce say

say is pronounced /seɪ/ in British English and /seɪ/ in American English. It has 1 syllable.

Words that rhyme with say

Scrabble score: 6 (letter breakdown)

Word lists: words starting with SA · words ending in AY · 3-letter words

More about say on Wikipedia.