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

The title is from [the saying] 50 is the youth of old age, but … 40 is the old age of youth. — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Alas, poor Bryan is about to learn the hard way that change — as the saying goes — is as hard to outrun as an ever-growing zombie rat king with 37 different limbs and a weirdly personal vendetta. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026

As the saying goes, anything is possible under the Friday Night Lights. — Staff Report, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2026

Well, ‘It’s been emotional’ has become one of the British icon sayings of movie history, which is fantastic. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 Sep. 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