say
say
Say (verb) means to speak words; to express something out loud or in writing. Example: “She said she would be late for dinner.”
verb
1
To speak words; to express something out loud or in writing.
"She said she would be late for dinner."
"What did the email say about the deadline?"
"He didn't say a word all the way home."
2
To suppose or assume something, often used to set up a hypothetical example.
"Say you won the lottery tomorrow — what would you do first?"
"Say we leave at nine, how long would the journey take?"
"Let's say the meeting runs late, would you still wait for me?"
noun
1
The right or opportunity to give an opinion that influences a decision.
"Employees wanted more say in how the office was run."
"Residents were given a say in the design of the new park."
"Everyone should have a say when the family plans a holiday."
intj
1
Used to get someone's attention before asking a question or making a suggestion.
"Say, do you know what time the shop closes?"
"Say, would you like to join us for lunch tomorrow?"
"Say, that's a nice jacket, where did you buy it?"
How to use say
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe everyday verb for speaking or expressing something, plus a noun sense for having influence in a decision.
Common mistake
"Say" takes an object directly ("say something") whereas "tell" needs a person ("tell someone something") — don't swap them.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
say so
have a say
needless to say
say goodbye
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Word forms
- Plural
- says
- Third person singular
- says, saith
- Past tense
- said, sayed
- Archaic forms
- sayest, saidst, sayeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
What did the email _____ about the deadline?
Etymology
From Old English secgan, "to say" — an ancient Germanic verb related to German sagen and Dutch zeggen.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for say
See all rhymes for say →Frequently asked questions
What does “say” mean?
The word “say” means to speak words; to express something out loud or in writing. In plain terms, the everyday verb for speaking or expressing something, plus a noun sense for having influence in a decision.
How do you pronounce “say”?
“Say” is pronounced say (/seɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “say” in a sentence?
Here is “say” used in a sentence: “What did the email say about the deadline?”
What is another word for “say”?
Words with a similar meaning to “say” include blather, dictate, gab, report, speak and state.
What is the opposite of “say”?
The opposite of “say” — its antonyms — are sign, signal and write.
What part of speech is “say”?
Depending on how it is used, “say” can be a verb, a noun and an intj.
Where does the word “say” come from?
The word “say” comes from Old English. From Old English secgan, "to say" — an ancient Germanic verb related to German sagen and Dutch zeggen.
Is “say” a common word?
“Say” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between say and tell?
'Say' focuses on the words spoken and does not need a listener named, as in 'she said hello.' 'Tell' focuses on the person receiving the information and is usually followed by an object, as in 'she told me the news.' You say something to someone, but you tell someone something.
What is the difference between say and speak?
'Speak' refers to the act or ability of talking, often without stating the exact words, as in 'she speaks quietly' or 'he speaks French.' 'Say' introduces the specific words or message expressed, as in 'she said she was tired.' In short, you speak a language but you say a particular thing.
Is 'say' an irregular verb?
Yes. 'Say' does not take the regular -ed ending. Its past tense and past participle are both 'said,' pronounced 'sed,' as in 'he said yes' and 'it was said.' The present participle is 'saying.' Note that the spelling of 'said' also changes from the base form.
What is an example of 'say' in a sentence?
'Please say your name clearly' asks someone to speak specific words. 'The sign says the shop is closed' shows 'say' used for written information. 'What did she say?' asks about the exact words expressed. In each, 'say' points to the message itself rather than the listener.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing say in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The agent first tried escaping OpenAI's isolated environment around July 9, two people familiar say.
From
Reuters · Jul 24, 2026
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