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

Everybody, according to an old saying of unknown but apparently wise origin, is an expert at raising other people’s kids. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

To quote another Mexican saying, por eso estamos como estamos. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

What Self-Awareness Has To Do With Availability There is an old saying that the best ability is availability. — Jerry Bobb, Forbes.com, 24 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

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