--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: say v. (says; past and past part.said) 1…" description: "\"“say v. (says; past and past part.said) 1 [reporting verb] utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oxford-university-press-30025_communication_say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-rep_2258132.jpg" --- # say v. (says; past and past part.said) 1 \[reporting verb\]… ![“say v. (says; past and past part.said) 1 [reporting verb] utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction: [with direct speech] “Thank you,” he said | [with clause] he said the fund stood at $100,000 | [trans.] our parents wouldn't believe a word we…” quote by Oxford University Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oxford-university-press-30025_communication_say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-rep_2258132.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oxford-university-press-30025_communication_say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-rep_2258132.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oxford-university-press-30025_communication_say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-rep_2258132.jpg) > ““say   v. (says; past and past part.said) 1 \[reporting verb\] utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction: \[with direct speech\] “Thank you,” he said \| \[with clause\] he said the fund stood at $100,000 \| \[trans.\] our parents wouldn't believe a word we said \| \[with infinitive\] he said to come early.    (of a text or a symbolic representation) convey specified information or instructions: \[with clause\] the law says such behavior is an offense.  \[trans.\] enable a listener or reader to learn or understand something by conveying or revealing (information or ideas): I don't want to say too much \| FIGURATIVEthe movie's title says it all.  \[trans.\] (of a clock or watch) indicate (a specified time): the clock says ten past two.  (be said) be asserted or reported (often used to avoid committing the speaker or writer to the truth of the assertion): \[with infinitive\] they were said to be training freedom fighters \| \[with clause\] it is said that she lived to be over a hundred.  \[trans.\] (say something for) present a consideration in favor of or excusing (someone or something): all I can say for him is that he's”” [Oxford University Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oxford-university-press/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The entry defines “say” as a verb used to convey information, opinion, feeling, intention, or instruction in various grammatical contexts. **In simple terms:** “Say” means to express or indicate something. Key Takeaway Use precise language to convey meaning. Themes communication language expression Mood informative neutral Type definition reference When to use this quote - writing - speaking - teaching - legal drafting Key Concepts semantics grammar pragmatics Questions to Reflect On - How does context shape the meaning of “say”? - When might you choose indirect phrasing? A Different Perspective Words can be ambiguous and may be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Infinitive Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinitive-said-5186129/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Asserted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-asserted-5186130/) [Say Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-says-382426/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Word Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-said/) ## Related quotes > [We must allow the Bible to say what is says, not what we think it ought to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-must-allow-the-bible-to-say-what-is-says-not-what-we-think-it/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“Everything you say says either more than you wanted it to say or less than you wanted it to say; and everything you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/everything-you-say-says-either-more-than-you-wanted-it-to-say-or-less-2/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“You can say anything but it's what you do that says it all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/you-can-say-anything-but-it-s-what-you-do-that-says-it-all/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Everything bad you say about me, says more about you than does about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-bad-you-say-about-me-says-more-about-you-than-does-about-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You have what you say, not what anyone else says about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-what-you-say-not-what-anyone-else-says-about-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“everything you say says either more than you wanted it to say or less than you wanted it to say; and everything you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/everything-you-say-says-either-more-than-you-wanted-it-to-say-or-less/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“What you say hints to who you are. 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(says; past and past part.said) 1 [reporting verb] utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling or intention, or an instruction: [with direct speech] “Thank you,” he said | [with clause] he said the fund stood at $100,000 | [trans.] our parents wouldn't believe a word we said | [with infinitive] he said to come early.    (of a text or a symbolic representation) convey specified information or instructions: [with clause] the law says such behavior is an offense.  [trans.] enable a listener or reader to learn or understand something by conveying or revealing (information or ideas): I don't want to say too much | FIGURATIVEthe movie's title says it all.  [trans.] (of a clock or watch) indicate (a specified time): the clock says ten past two.  (be said) be asserted or reported (often used to avoid committing the speaker or writer to the truth of the assertion): [with infinitive] they were said to be training freedom fighters | [with clause] it is said that she lived to be over a hundred.  [trans.] (say something for) present a consideration in favor of or excusing (someone or something): all I can say for him is that he's”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oxford University Press" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oxford-university-press/say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-reporting-verb-utter-words-so-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oxford-university-press/say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-reporting-verb-utter-words-so-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oxford-university-press-30025_communication_say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-rep_2258132.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oxford-university-press-30025_communication_say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-rep_2258132.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/498/oxford-university-press-30025_communication_say-v-says-past-and-past-part-said-1-rep_2258132.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“say v. 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