Word.ws English Dictionary

I say

I say interjection: an exclamation of surprise or protest.

Interjection

  1. (UK, dated) An exclamation of surprise or protest.
    • I say! That's impressive!
    • I say, what is the meaning of this?
    Synonyms:
    wow
  2. (UK, dated) An exclamation used to call someone or attract someone's attention.
    • I say! ... John ... Are you still there? If you're going into town could you get some eggs?
    • […] an excited gentleman […] pounded with the knocker on the door of No. 9. As someone did not appear with the instantaneity of a jack-in-the-box, he proceeded to repeat the summons, interspersing it with an occasional "I say!" shouted through the letter-box.1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC
  3. Used for emphasis, or when resuming after diversion or interruption.
    • When such men as Mr. Burke, Mr. Dundas, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Windham, and my Lord Grenville: when such men as these unreservedly and repeatedly avowed their sentiments on the condition of the Slave; when they saw no danger in the avowal; […] when, I say, these men thus thought, spoke, and acted […]1823, William Wilberforce, Appeal to the Religion, Justice and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire in Behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies
    • But when Amelia came down with her kind smiling looks (Rebecca must introduce her to her friend, Miss Crawley was longing to see her, and was too ill to leave her carriage)—when, I say, Amelia came down, the Park Lane shoulder-knot aristocracy wondered more and more that such a thing could come out...1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 63, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC
  4. (dated) A traditional introduction to a joke, usually thrice repeated.
    • I say, I say, I say! Did you hear the one about the nun in a maternity ward?

Examples of I say in a sentence

  • Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go.1991, Stephen Fry, chapter III, in The Liar, London: William Heinemann, →ISBN, page 26:
  • Stop I say!" ordered the professor imperiously.1912, Clarence Young, The Motor Boys on the Wing: Or, Seeking the Airship Treasure, page 63:

Synonyms of I say

Questions about I say

What does I say mean?
I say means an exclamation of surprise or protest.
How do you use I say in a sentence?
Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go.
What part of speech is I say?
I say is an interjection.

Words near I say in the dictionary

  1. I only work here
  2. I put it to you
  3. I resemble that remark
  4. I rest my case
  5. I said what I said
  6. I say
  7. I see
  8. I see London, I see France
  9. I see what you did there
  10. I see you
  11. I see, said the blind man

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: I say (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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