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saying 1 of 2

noun

ˈsā-iŋ How to pronounce saying (audio)
Definition of sayingnext
as in proverb
an often stated observation regarding something from common experience there's an old saying that you should let sleeping dogs lie

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saying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of say
1
as in telling
to express (a thought or emotion) in words why don't you just say what's on your mind?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in expressing
to convey in appropriate or telling terms I'm not quite sure how to say this, but that's the worst essay I've ever read

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3
as in reciting
to give from memory say your prayers

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4
as in assuming
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof let's say, for the sake of argument, that this is true

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of saying
Noun
As the saying goes, the shortest way through a storm is straight. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 But there is a saying in the military that leadership sets the tone, and when the most senior leaders are flippant at best, and cruel at worst, many will understand that to be the permissible standard. — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
The same day, the ruling Democratic Party launched a task force on a transition, saying the move would benefit national security. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026 Federal judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys have all chimed in, saying the transfer, which is underway, will waste taxpayer dollars, create massive backlogs and complications in court proceedings, and endanger inmates’ constitutional rights. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for saying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saying
  1. proverb
  2. telling
  3. expressing
  4. reciting
  5. assuming
  6. word
  7. talking
  8. stating
Noun
  • The underlying lesson of the proverb dates back at least to the time of the first Olympics in Greece — nearly 3,000 years ago, for those counting at home.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
  • That proverb, attributed to everyone from Yogi Berra to a Danish Nobel laureate, springs to mind whenever someone asks me about an upcoming NFL season.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of proverb
Verb
  • Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued warnings to residents of Riyadh and the surrounding area early Saturday, telling people to remain indoors because of an aerial threat.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
  • These illnesses often begin with symptoms that look very similar, so telling them apart can be tricky – especially when the beginning of cold and flu season in the fall can be the tail end of summer seasonal allergies.
    — Ann Sheehan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of telling
Verb
  • Paxton had argued that the law-school clinic was not a classroom but a workplace, and that Fisher was punished not for expressing political views but because her cursing and volume had disrupted clinic business.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Chiefs wives, including Brittany Mahomes, along with fans are expressing support for the couple on Instagram, where Laura Smith-Schuster posted last week.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of expressing
Verb
  • An outstretched hand After reciting the confessional, the Ne’ilah service adds one more prayer, not used in other services.
    — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Buyers are even reciting the specifics back to us unprompted.
    — Ali Aydan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of reciting
Verb
  • Any brand attempting something similar should ask what its equivalent trust signal is—certification, a guarantee, a verifiable specification—before assuming volume of content alone will move a purchase decision.
    — Agung Dwi Sandi, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • However, the leap from these qualities to assuming, hyperbolically, that AI will become a competitor, even a predatory species ready to eliminate us, is a fantastical step too far.
    — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of assuming
Noun
  • The banquet room of an Elgin restaurant resonated with those words at the conclusion of a rousing tune featuring four-part barbershop harmony.
    — Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The last words of Lizzie Borden have never been reported; in fact, she was rarely seen or heard from in public in the years following her acquittal.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of word
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Murphy’s staff had increasingly been talking internally about the need for members to support athlete labor rights and for college sports to have a players’ association, at the very least, if not a union.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Thomas, 56, of Algonquin, said in talking to voters, people in the district are concerned about taxes and safety.
    — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of talking
Verb
  • Her mother, Dalila Lopez, stood beside her daughter teary-eyed, stating that witnessing the citizenship process filled her with joy.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • In 2022, the DA's office made a court filing stating that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of stating

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saying
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Cite this Entry

“Saying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saying. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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