say
Put into words
The three most frequent verbs (be, have, do) earn their status partly because they can be both main and auxiliary verbs.
Say is the most frequent verb that doesn’t also have a helping job, probably because we have a predilection for quoting others.
Like many frequent verbs, say is irregular, with its inflected form said for the past and past participle.
Over the centuries, say has developed figurative uses: The clock says five o’clock.
Say can also express a supposition: Let’s say no one responds to your offer; what then?
To vocalize words
- voiceSound from throat
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- verbalizeExpress in speech
- pronounceUtter distinctly, vocalize
enunciate · vocalize · express · communicate · convey · state · tell · mention
Recounting events aloud
- narrativeAccount of events
- voiceoverOff-screen recorded speech
- narrationVerbal account delivery
- recountNarrate or retally
relate · describe · chronicle · tell · monologue · dialogue · exposition · recitation
Declare officially and openly
- declareState officially
- announceState something officially
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- pronounceUtter distinctly, vocalize
decree · publicize · herald · report · disclose · reveal · divulge · notify
Accept as true tentatively
- presumeAccept without verification
- assumeAccept as true
- hypothesizePropose a tentative explanation
- imagineForm mental pictures
conjecture · surmise · speculate · posit · theorize · postulate · infer · deduce
Nearly accurate but inexact
- guessEstimate without certainty
- reckonBelieve or estimate
- ballparkSports venue or estimate
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
calculate · judge · gauge · figure · assess · roughly · about · around
Acknowledge upon meeting
- welcomeHospitable greeting offered
- presentGift or current moment
- introduceMake formally known
- meetCome into contact
acquaint · handshake · icebreaker · hello · reception · presentation · debut · networking
utter
To vocalize words
- voiceSound from throat
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- verbalizeExpress in speech
pronounce · enunciate · vocalize · express · communicate · convey · state · tell · mention · remark
storytelling
Recounting events aloud
recount · relate · describe · chronicle · tell · monologue · dialogue · exposition · recitation · anecdote
proclaim
Declare officially and openly
pronounce · decree · publicize · herald · report · disclose · reveal · divulge · notify · inform
suppose
Accept as true tentatively
- presumeAccept without verification
- assumeAccept as true
- hypothesizePropose a tentative explanation
imagine · conjecture · surmise · speculate · posit · theorize · postulate · infer · deduce · guess
approximate
Nearly accurate but inexact
guesstimate · calculate · judge · gauge · figure · assess · roughly · about · around · more-or-less
greet
Acknowledge upon meeting
meet · acquaint · handshake · icebreaker · hello · reception · presentation · debut · networking · encounter
saysay nothing
Refrain from speaking
remain silent · keep quiet · be silent · silence · hush
- say goodbyeExpress final departure
- say helloVerbally acknowledge someone
- say noVerbally reject something
- say yesExpress agreement verbally
- saying goodbyeAct of parting words
- say hiGive casual greeting
saying, says, sayings, gainsay, naysayer, unsay, sayers, naysayers, naysaying