English Dictionary
Definition say in British English
say
verb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
verb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
Unlike the verb tell, the verb say is never used with a personal object. If you want to refer to a personal object after say, use the preposition to:
✗ Perhaps people misunderstand what I want to say them in English.
✓ Perhaps people misunderstand what I want to say to them in English.
✗ He wanted to be examined by a civilian doctor after an army doctor had said him that it was serious.
✓ He wanted to be examined by a civilian doctor after an army doctor had said to him that it was serious.
The object of the verb say is usually direct speech or a that-clause which reports what someone has said:
‘That’s not true!’ she said, but her voice betrayed her.
Climate experts say that by 2100 rainfall levels in some areas may rise to five times what they are today.
Don’t use tell in structures like this:
✗ He told that the Japanese representatives tend to be less confident about speaking English.
✓ He said that the Japanese representatives tend to be less confident about speaking English.
➡ tell
'When's he coming back?' 'He didn't say.'
to think something, or to have a particular opinion
I say we go (=I think we should go) by car: it's quicker than the train.
It is said that he was introduced to the king by a wealthy cousin.
to mean something by a statement
to give information or orders in writing, numbers, pictures etc
to show indirectly what someone or something is like
to imagine what will happen in a particular situation
to tell someone to do something
an informal way of asking someone to repeat what they have just said, especially because it is strange or surprising
"There's a £10 administration fee." "Say what now?"
Related Words
Words related to say: