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Say Very Common

Say has 20 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Intj

Definitions
Noun
1

the chance to speak

"let him have his say"

say
2

A chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision.

"I need to say that my grandmother's kitchen is missing her old metal strainer for separating cream from the milk."

3

A type of fine cloth similar to serge.

4

Trial by sample; assay; specimen.

5

A strainer for milk.

In plain English: In this context, saying is not a noun but a verb that means to speak words aloud or express thoughts verbally.

"It is hard to say what will happen next."

Usage: Use this noun when referring to an opportunity to express an opinion, such as having one's say in a matter. It also denotes the authority or privilege required to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting others.

Verb
1

express in words

"He said that he wanted to marry her"

"tell me what is bothering you"

"state your opinion"

"state your name"

2

report or maintain

"He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"

"He said it was too late to intervene in the war"

"The registrar says that I owe the school money"

3

express a supposition

"Let us say that he did not tell the truth"

"Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?"

4

have or contain a certain wording or form

"The passage reads as follows"

"What does the law say?"

5

give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority

"I said to him to go home"

"She ordered him to do the shopping"

"The mother told the child to get dressed"

6

speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

"She pronounces French words in a funny way"

"I cannot say `zip wire'"

"Can the child sound out this complicated word?"

7

communicate or express nonverbally

"What does this painting say?"

"Did his face say anything about how he felt?"

say
8

utter aloud

"She said `Hello' to everyone in the office"

say
9

state as one's opinion or judgement; declare

"I say let's forget this whole business"

say
10

recite or repeat a fixed text

"Say grace"

"She said her `Hail Mary'"

say
11

indicate

"The clock says noon"

say
12

To pronounce.

"He tried to say his way through the complex legal argument, but he quickly realized he needed professional help."

13

To try; to assay.

In plain English: To say something is to speak your thoughts or words out loud so others can hear them.

"She said hello to her friend when they met on the street."

Adverb
1

For example; let us assume.

"Say you decide to move to a new city tomorrow, where would you start looking for an apartment?"

"I didn't say exactly what I meant."

Intj
1

Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion

"Could you stop for a second? I have something important to say about our project plan."

Example Sentences
"I didn't say exactly what I meant." adv
"It is hard to say what will happen next." noun
"She said hello to her friend when they met on the street." verb
See Also
speak repeat talk mention tell utter talking speaking
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
opportunity express assert speculate have request convey recite read
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
present misstate answer precede announce articulate get out declare note add explain give summarize plead direct instruct command call warn prescribe twang devoice raise lilt palatalize nasalize mispronounce aspirate voice retroflex subvocalize syllabize drawl round lisp stress vocalize click trill sibilate flap explode roll

Origin

The word "say" comes from the Old English verb seċġan, which originally meant to speak or utter words. It traveled into modern English through Middle English forms like seyen and seggen, retaining its core meaning of expressing thoughts verbally.

Rhyming Words
besay qusay i say resay essay assay basay orsay tosay unsay naysay endsay yeasay ramsay forsay missay gainsay hearsay oversay talisay
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