What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
say
Example
She said that she would be late. [said: past tense]
Example
I have to say, I really enjoyed the movie. [say: verb]
Example
Say 'cheese' for the camera! [say: imperative]
utter
Example
He uttered a cry of pain. [uttered: past tense]
Example
She uttered a prayer before the exam. [uttered: verb]
Example
The judge's ruling was the final and utter decision. [utter: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Say is much more commonly used than utter in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between say and utter?
Utter is more formal than say and is often used in more formal contexts such as legal or academic writing.
