saying

1 of 2

noun

say·​ing ˈsā-iŋ 

: something said

especially : adage

saying

2 of 2

present participle of say entry 1

Synonyms of saying

Noun

• proverb
• word
• saw
• motto

Examples of saying in a Sentence

Noun

there's an old saying that you should let sleeping dogs lie

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As the saying goes, hurt people hurt people, and Pam hurts a whole lot of people. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026

Carnegie Hall seats well over 3,000 people, but this intense, no-frills performance film gives life to the old saying about feeling alone in a crowd. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

And my mother even had a saying, something along the [lines] that an adult decides and the child follows. — Terry Gross, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

The old saying goes that rotation is the lifeblood of a bull market. — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing saying

• go without saying
• if you don't mind my/me saying so
• I hear what you're saying
• quote as saying
• that's not saying much
• there's no saying

Rhymes for saying

• baying
• braying
• faying
• flaying
• fraying
• graying
• greying
• haying
• laying
• neighing
• paying
• playing

Kids Definition

saying

noun

say·​ing

ˈsā-iŋ

: something frequently said : proverb