say

(sā)

v. said (sĕd), say·ing, says (sĕz)

v.tr.

1. To utter aloud; pronounce: The children said, "Good morning."

2. To express in words: Say what's on your mind.

a. To state as an opinion or judgment; declare: I say let's eat out.

b. To state as a determination of fact: It's hard to say who is right in this matter.

c. To report or maintain; allege: It is said he is a fraud.

4. To repeat or recite: said grace.

a. To indicate; show: The clock says half past two.

b. To give nonverbal expression to; signify or embody: It was an act that said "devotion."

6. To suppose; assume: Let's say that you're right.

v.intr.

To make a statement or express an opinion or judgment: The story must be true because the teacher said so.

1. A turn or chance to speak: Having had my say, I sat down.

2. The right or power to influence or make a decision: Citizens have a say in the councils of government. All I want is some say in the matter.

3. Archaic Something said; a statement.

adv.

1. Approximately: There were, say, 500 people present.

2. For instance: a woodwind, say an oboe.

interj.

Used to express surprise or appeal for someone's attention.

Idioms:

I say

1. Used preceding an utterance to call attention to it: I say, do you have the time?

2. Used as an exclamation of surprise, delight, or dismay.

that is to say

In other words.

to say nothing of

And there is no need to mention. Used to allude to things that fill out an idea or argument: The yard is a mess, to say nothing of the house.

you can say that again Slang

Used to express strong agreement with what has just been said.

[Middle English seien, from Old English secgan; see sek^w- in Indo-European roots.]

say′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adv.

that is to say - as follows

namely, to wit, videlicet, viz.

Translations

أي أنَّ، بِمَعْنى

to jest

det vil sige

nochall

c’est-à-direc'est-à-dire

más szóval

òaî er aî segja, meî öîrum orîum

to jest

yani

换句话说

say

(sei) – 3rd person singular present tense says (sez) : past tense, past participle said (sed) – verb

1. to speak or utter. What did you say?; She said `Yes'.

2. to tell, state or declare. She said how she had enjoyed meeting me; She is said to be very beautiful.

3. to repeat. The child says her prayers every night.

4. to guess or estimate. I can't say when he'll return.

noun

the right or opportunity to state one's opinion. I haven't had my say yet; We have no say in the decision.

ˈsaying noun

something often said, especially a proverb etc.

have (something, *nothingetc) to say for oneself

to be able/unable to explain one's actions etc. Your work is very careless – what have you to say for yourself?

I wouldn't say no to

I would like. I wouldn't say no to an ice-cream.

(let's) say

roughly; approximately; about. You'll arrive there in, (let's) say, three hours.

say the word

I'm ready to obey your wishes. If you'd like to go with me, say the word.

that is to say

in other words; I mean. He was here last Thursday, that's to say the 4th of June.