3
b
: to give expression to : communicate
a glance that said all that was necessary
: to express oneself : speak
1
: an expression of opinion
had my say
2
: a right or power to influence action or decision
especially
: the authority to make final decisions
3
archaic
: something that is said : statement
1
: about, approximately
the property is worth, say, four million dollars
2
: for example : as
if we compress any gas, say oxygen
Synonyms
Examples of say in a Sentence
Verb
“Is anybody there?” he said.
“Good morning,” said the woman behind the counter.
I said three words before he interrupted me again.
I just stopped by to say hello.
He left without saying goodbye.
I wanted to say thank you for all you've done for me.
She said something about going to the store after work.
He said something in French.
Anything you say to the police can be used as evidence against you.
Don't believe a word he says.
Noun
Everybody had a say at the meeting.
We won't make a decision until all members have had their say.
The judge will have the final say on the divorce settlement.
He had no say in the matter.
Adverb
a person consumes, say, 2000 calories a day
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Chloe Melas, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023
Joe Gloria, who was Clark County's registrar at the time, said a state investigator asked him questions about the scheme earlier this month.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 15 Nov. 2023
The recruitment process will include gathering input from community members throughout the city, officials said.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
Others said that trading stocks shouldn’t be banned because doing so would cut off a financial source that some politicians use to supplement their income.
—Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2023
One of those benefits came in hiring a UX designer, says Switzer.
—WIRED, 15 Nov. 2023
The university said counseling was being made available to students individually and in group settings.
—CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023
Margaret said Phil has always been one to take care of her.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2023
Ad blocker developers say annoyance with YouTube has long been a top driver of downloads of their tools.
—WIRED, 3 Nov. 2023
Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
The bees with the most popular dance part earn final say on where to build.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 Nov. 2023
Reached through the Colorado Civil Rights Division, the settlement requires her former employer to give librarians more say in decisions involving library programs.
—Mead Gruver, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Nov. 2023
For example, give kids reign over the following: Toys
Pillows
Color and texture of the sheets or blankets on their beds
Color of their walls
These little choices may not seem like a big deal, but kids have no say over so many things in life.
—Kristine Jepsen, Parents, 6 Nov. 2023
The articles claim that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has the final say over the traditions that guide the Tibetan belief in reincarnation—particularly over the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama.
—Lobsang Sangay, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2023
According to the San Diego County Water Authority, all of the voters within a regional water agency should get a say on whether whether two small districts can leave the larger group — not just customers of the agencies that want to secede.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2023
Four of the women who spoke with Fortune say that senior executives were disrespectful toward them.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2023
The Crown will also have a say in how the building is maintained and run.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2023
See More
Verb
The source familiar with the case said the five videos could be presented to the grand jury.
—Chloe Melas, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023
Joe Gloria, who was Clark County's registrar at the time, said a state investigator asked him questions about the scheme earlier this month.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 15 Nov. 2023
The recruitment process will include gathering input from community members throughout the city, officials said.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
Others said that trading stocks shouldn’t be banned because doing so would cut off a financial source that some politicians use to supplement their income.
—Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 15 Nov. 2023
One of those benefits came in hiring a UX designer, says Switzer.
—WIRED, 15 Nov. 2023
The university said counseling was being made available to students individually and in group settings.
—CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023
Margaret said Phil has always been one to take care of her.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2023
Ad blocker developers say annoyance with YouTube has long been a top driver of downloads of their tools.
—WIRED, 3 Nov. 2023
Noun
Probably as soon as possible, if the major Hollywood studios and the thousands of entertainment industry employees (not just actors and writers but crew members and other production workers as well) who have gone largely without work for nearly seven months have any say.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
The bees with the most popular dance part earn final say on where to build.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 Nov. 2023
Reached through the Colorado Civil Rights Division, the settlement requires her former employer to give librarians more say in decisions involving library programs.
—Mead Gruver, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Nov. 2023
For example, give kids reign over the following: Toys
Pillows
Color and texture of the sheets or blankets on their beds
Color of their walls
These little choices may not seem like a big deal, but kids have no say over so many things in life.
—Kristine Jepsen, Parents, 6 Nov. 2023
The articles claim that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has the final say over the traditions that guide the Tibetan belief in reincarnation—particularly over the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama.
—Lobsang Sangay, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2023
According to the San Diego County Water Authority, all of the voters within a regional water agency should get a say on whether whether two small districts can leave the larger group — not just customers of the agencies that want to secede.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2023
Four of the women who spoke with Fortune say that senior executives were disrespectful toward them.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2023
The Crown will also have a say in how the building is maintained and run.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'say.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Old English secgan; akin to Old High German sagēn to say, Lithuanian sakyti, Greek ennepein to speak, tell
Adverb
from imperative of say entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1571, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adverb
circa 1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of say was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing say
Dictionary Entries Near say
Cite this Entry
“Say.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/say. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
say
1 of 3 verb1
2
a
: utter entry 2 sense 2, pronounce
can't say more than three words without laughing
b
: recite sense 1, repeat
said my prayers
3
a
: indicate sense 2, show
the clock says five minutes after ten
b
: to give expression to : communicate
the look on his face said it all
4
: suppose sense 1, assume
let's say you're right
say
2 of 3 noun1
: an expression of opinion
had my say
2
: the power to decide or help decide
had no say in the plans
say
3 of 3 adverb1
: about as much or as many as
is worth, say, ten dollars
2
: as an example
pick any state, say Iowa
More from Merriam-Webster on say
Nglish: Translation of say for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of say for Arabic Speakers
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