saying

noun

say·​ing ˈsā-iŋ 

: something said

especially : adage

Synonyms of saying

• proverb
• word
• saw
• motto

Examples of saying in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

At a briefing Tuesday, the Pentagon displayed a graphic saying Iran had laid new mines in the Strait of Hormuz on April 23. —Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 5 May 2026

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes, and the existential problems that war presents often act as a stimulus to innovation. —David Szondy may 02, New Atlas, 2 May 2026

Grandma may be the queen of nonsensical sayings, but Dad is certainly the king of cheesy jokes. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026

But, as the saying goes in college athletics, billable hours are undefeated. —Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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