saying

noun

say·​ing ˈsā-iŋ 

: something said

especially : adage

Synonyms

• adage
• aphorism
• apothegm
• byword
• epigram
• maxim
• proverb
• saw
• sententia
• word

Examples of saying in a Sentence

there's an old saying that you should let sleeping dogs lie

Recent Examples on the Web

The saying is that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. —Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

By Jamie Ducharme January 24, 2025 12:22 PM EST Everything is negotiable, as the saying goes—and that includes medical bills. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025

Current students and graduates of the University of Missouri and Kansas State University take the opportunity during the post-chorus to chant an explicit saying to their rival, the University of Kansas. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2025

Feng says there’s even a saying being passed around among users right now: Koreans are experiencing China offline, Americans are experiencing China online, based on the recent news that Shanghai beat out Tokyo as a top winter travel destination for South Korean tourists. —Steffi Cao, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing saying

• go without saying
• if you don't mind my/me saying so
• I hear what you're saying
• quote as saying
• that's not saying much
• there's no saying

Kids Definition

saying

noun

say·​ing

ˈsā-iŋ

: something frequently said : proverb