Definition Definition

say - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'say' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Say [ imp.]
- Saw.
2 . Say [ n.]
- Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack.
- Tried quality; temper; proof.
- Essay; trial; attempt.
- A kind of silk or satin.
- A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth.
3 . Say [ v. i.]
- To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
4 . Say [ v. t.]
- To try; to assay.
- To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things.
- To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to say a lesson.
- To announce as a decision or opinion; to state positively; to assert; hence, to form an opinion upon; to be sure about; to be determined in mind as to.
- To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or approximation; hence, to suppose; -- in the imperative, followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles.
- A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb.

Meaning of 'say' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . say [ n]
Meaning (1):
- the chance to speak
Example in sentence:
  • let him have his say
2 . say [ v]
Meaning (2):
- speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
Example in sentence:
  • Can the child sound out this complicated word?;
  • I cannot say `zip wire';
  • She pronounces French words in a funny way
Meaning (3):
- communicate or express nonverbally
Example in sentence:
  • Did his face say anything about how he felt?;
  • What does this painting say?
Meaning (4):
- report or maintain
Example in sentence:
  • 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
Meaning (5):
- express in words
Example in sentence:
  • He said that he wanted to marry her;
  • state your name;
  • state your opinion;
  • tell me what is bothering you
Meaning (6):
- give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
Example in sentence:
  • I said to him to go home;
  • She ordered him to do the shopping;
  • The mother told the child to get dressed
Meaning (7):
- state as one's opinion or judgement; declare
Example in sentence:
  • I say let's forget this whole business
Meaning (8):
- express a supposition
Example in sentence:
  • Let us say that he did not tell the truth;
  • Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?
Meaning (9):
- recite or repeat a fixed text
Example in sentence:
  • Say grace;
  • She said her `Hail Mary'
Meaning (10):
- utter aloud
Example in sentence:
  • She said `Hello' to everyone in the office
Meaning (11):
- indicate
Example in sentence:
  • The clock says noon
Meaning (12):
- have or contain a certain wording or form
Example in sentence:
  • The passage reads as follows;
  • What does the law say?

Nearby Words:

sayer sayette saying sayman saymaster saynd

See 'say' also in:

Dictionary.com Google Translator Wikipedia.com Merriam Webster

Related Definitions

  • Essay appraisal
    Essay appraisal is an appraisal strategy requiring the rater to provide a narrative description of an individual’s performance based on the rater’s performance observations.
  • Assay
    Assay is the qualitative or quantitative determination of the components of a material, such as a drug.

Categories

Browse Dictionary