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Synonyms

saying

American  
[sey-ing] / ˈseɪ ɪŋ /

noun

  1. something said, say, especially a proverb or apothegm.

    Synonyms:
    aphorism, saw, adage, maxim

idioms

  1. go without saying, to be completely self-evident; be understood.

    It goes without saying that you are welcome to visit us at any time.
saying British  
/ ˈseɪɪŋ /

noun

  1. a maxim, adage, or proverb

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of saying

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (gerund); say 1, -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In response to the war, Aurigny last month introduced a temporary £2 fuel surcharge on new bookings, saying that the islands were "not immune from the realities presented by the global travel ecosystem".

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“If you want to be serious, you don’t go around saying the opposite of what you said the day before,” Macron said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“I pointed to the ground and was saying, ‘This is my field.’

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

“Workers are feeling that, and even though the numbers are saying this is a pretty solid job market, there’s still a lot of insecurity,” Richardson told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Eugene Hammond noticed her too, saying to Dad, “I hope the young lady suffered no injury.”

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.