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

As the saying goes, hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Not Knowing Your Plant Knowledge is power, as the old saying goes, and seasonal pruning requires a solid understanding of your plant. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 16 July 2026

One person’s flip-flop is another person’s strappy sandal… or so the saying goes. — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 10 July 2026

There is an old saying in baseball, that a team can never have enough pitching. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 7 July 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