- say
- say vb Say, utter, tell, state are comparable when they mean to put into words.Say often means merely to articulate or pronounce{
say the words after me
}{the baby has not yet learned to say "mama" or "daddy"
}or is used in reporting something voiced{he said over the telephone that he would be late in coming home
}{"I am going now," he said
}Say may also imply the fact of putting in speech or in writing without necessarily suggesting the actual wording{you must learn to say what you mean
}{he meant what he said
}{do as I say and everything will be all right
}Utter (see also EXPRESS) stresses the act of putting into speech or spoken words, often with reference only to the use of the voice and with no indication of motive or impulse in speaking{she sat still, not uttering a single word
}{just as the actor uttered his first speech
}{he formed this speech with his lips many times before he could utter it— Dickens
}Tell (see also COUNT, REVEAL) carries no clear implication of whether what is said is put into speech or writing, for the stress is upon imparting an idea or thought and not upon the method used. Consequently tell may suggest a putting into spoken or written words, or it may connote an equally clear or forcible means of impressing an idea upon the mind of a person or of revealing a condition or a sequence of events{I am telling you the truth
}{the rocks tell the story of past ages
}State (see also RELATE) is often used in place of say when the added implication of clearness and definiteness is necessary{perhaps I had better take this opportunity of stating he need have no expectations from me; all my money will go in public bequests— Deland
}{one should know what one thinks and what one means, and be able to state it in clear terms— Rose Macaulay
}
New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.
