say 1 of 3

verb

ˈsā How to pronounce say (audio)
Definition of saynext
1
as in to tell
to express (a thought or emotion) in words why don't you just say what's on your mind?

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to express
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 to recite
to give from memory say your prayers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to assume
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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say

2 of 3

adverb

as in about
close to but not exactly a person consumes, say, 2000 calories a day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

say

3 of 3

noun

as in share
the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion even if they decide otherwise, at least I had my say

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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 say
Verb
The glove contained a small bag of cocaine and Adderall, the document said. — Ava Kelley, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026 At the time, officials said the travel document would only be available at the Washington Passport Agency. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
Adverb
The result has been a group of ridiculously talented dancers with a never-say-quit attitude and a lot of stuff to say — and doing it elegantly. — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Noun
But like it or not, the Islamic Republic gets a say in what happens next in Iran. — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026 Any agreement would need to be approved by all current EU member nations and then voters in Iceland would have the final say on whether to join. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for say
Recent Examples of Synonyms for say
  1. tell
  2. express
  3. recite
  4. assume
  5. about
  6. share
  7. talk
  8. phrase
Verb
  • The referendum campaign has fueled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told reporters after casting her ballot in ​the capital on Saturday.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Indrika Ratwatte, the acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the Kenscoff attack forced more than 2,600 people to flee their homes, many for the second or third time.
    — Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of tell
Verb
  • In the comments of an Instagram upload from Bustle, which also showed Stoermer’s Stories post, fans expressed their disappointment with Euphoria‘s conclusion in the comments.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Mamdani opened the news conference by expressing his condolences to the victims and their families and thanking the officers who responded.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of express
Verb
  • Critics lacking a serious investment in women’s basketball can conveniently swoop in to recite their spiel, and pay no attention to the sport itself.
    — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Bowie allegedly told other users about her oath and shared the audio file of her reciting the pledge with them.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of recite
Verb
  • Goldman’s model assumes SMIC will add between 30,000 and 50,000 advanced-node wafers in monthly capacity each year from 2026 through 2031.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Golden Tempo, meanwhile, assumed his position near the back of the field as his deep closing style has delivered huge glory in the past.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of assume
Adverb
  • The cutting should root in about a month and will require several hours of direct sunlight or a grow light each day to last through winter.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Winner had a choice Johnson lives in Goldston and has taught middle school for about 20 years.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of about
Noun
  • The company attributed the loss mainly to fair-value losses on its convertible redeemable preferred shares, as per its prospectus.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The region typically receives a significant share of its rainfall during this time of year, Weiss said.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of share
Verb
  • For those who take pride in their pouty lips (or their ability to talk their way out of just about anything), a swipe of lipstick and nothing else is a cool way to look put together without the hustle of actually putting yourself together.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Despite 40-plus years of dazzling red-carpet moments—and two decades since becoming the first Arab designer on the official Paris haute couture calendar—in real life Elie Saab is still more comfortable letting his runway do the talking for him.
    — Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of talk
Verb
  • That term has taken on a life of its own, as people are making dances to phrase and using it in conversation.
    — Moises Mendez II, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • It’s designed to interpret intent, so a request doesn’t necessarily have to be phrased as a precise smart home command.
    — Paul Lamkin, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of phrase

Phrases Containing say

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saxophonists
say
sayer
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Cite this Entry

“Say.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/say. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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