Say Definition

say
noun
  1. the chance to speak; "let him have his say"
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"
  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"
  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?"
  4. have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What does the law say?"
  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"
  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?"
  7. communicate or express nonverbally; "What does this painting say?"; "Did his face say anything about how he felt?"
  8. utter aloud; "She said `Hello' to everyone in the office"
  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'"
  11. indicate; "The clock says noon"

"Say" in song lyrics

See how say is used in real songs:

  • "You can say 800"
    11/5 — Garcia Vegas
  • "You see me say?"
    1.4.0. Productions f/ King Just — This is Hip-Hop
  • "With his head to the ground and nothing to say"
    2 Live Crew — Check it Out Y'all

Usage tips for "say"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "say" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for say to find words that pair well.

Look up another word