Say meaning

What does “say” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“say” is a noun and verb with 12 meanings. Its most common meaning is: the chance to speak.

say

express in words
“He said that he wanted to marry her”
“tell me what is bothering you”
Synonymsstate tell
report or maintain
“He alleged that he was the victim of a crime”
“He said it was too late to intervene in the war”
Synonymsallege aver
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?”
Synonymssuppose
have or contain a certain wording or form
“The passage reads as follows”
“What does the law say?”
Synonymsread
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”
Synonymsorder tell enjoin
speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
“She pronounces French words in a funny way”
“I cannot say `zip wire'”
Synonymspronounce articulate enounce sound out enunciate
communicate or express nonverbally
“What does this painting say?”
“Did his face say anything about how he felt?”
utter aloud
“She said `Hello' to everyone in the office”
state as one's opinion or judgement; declare
“I say let's forget this whole business”
recite or repeat a fixed text
“Say grace”
“She said her `Hail Mary'”
indicate
“The clock says noon”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University