express

[ ik-spres ]
See synonyms for: expressexpressedexpressesexpressing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to put (thought) into words; utter or state: to express an idea clearly.

  2. to show, manifest, or reveal: to express one's anger.

  1. to set forth the opinions, feelings, etc., of (oneself), as in speaking, writing, or painting: He can express himself eloquently.

  2. to represent by a symbol, character, figure, or formula: to express water as H2O; to express unknown quantities algebraically.

  3. to send by express: to express a package or merchandise.

  4. to press or squeeze out: to express the juice of grapes.

  5. to exude or emit (a liquid, odor, etc.), as if under pressure: The roses expressed a sweet perfume.

  6. Genetics. (of a gene) to be active in the production of (a protein or a phenotype).

adjective
  1. clearly indicated; distinctly stated; definite; explicit; plain: He defied my express command.

  2. special; definite: We have an express purpose in being here.

  1. direct or fast, especially making few or no intermediate stops: an express train;an express elevator.

  2. used for direct or high-speed travel: an express highway.

  3. duly or exactly formed or represented: an express image.

  4. pertaining to an express: an express agency.

noun
  1. an express train, bus, elevator, etc.

  2. a system or method of sending freight, parcels, money, etc., that is faster and safer, but more expensive, than ordinary freight service: We agree to send the package by express.

  1. a company engaged in this business.

  2. British. a messenger or a message specially sent.

  3. something sent by express.

adverb
  1. by express: to travel express.

  2. Obsolete. expressly.

Origin of express

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English expressen, from Latin expressus “pressed out,” past participle of exprimere “to press out”; see ex-1, press1

Other words for express

Opposites for express

Other words from express

  • ex·press·er, ex·pres·sor, noun
  • ex·press·i·ble, adjective
  • ex·press·less, adjective
  • o·ver·ex·press, verb (used with object)
  • pre·ex·press, verb (used with object)
  • qua·si-ex·pressed, adjective
  • re·ex·press, verb (used with object)
  • su·per·ex·press, noun
  • un·ex·press·i·ble, adjective
  • well-ex·pressed, adjective

Words Nearby express

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use express in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for express

express

/ (ɪkˈsprɛs) /


verb(tr)
  1. to transform (ideas) into words; utter; verbalize

  2. to show or reveal; indicate: tears express grief

  1. to communicate (emotion, etc) without words, as through music, painting, etc

  2. to indicate through a symbol, formula, etc

  3. to force or squeeze out: to express the juice from an orange

  4. to send by rapid transport or special messenger

  5. express oneself to communicate one's thoughts or ideas

adjective(prenominal)
  1. clearly indicated or shown; explicitly stated: an express wish

  2. done or planned for a definite reason or goal; particular: an express purpose

  1. of, concerned with, or designed for rapid transportation of people, merchandise, mail, money, etc: express delivery; an express depot

noun
    • a system for sending merchandise, mail, money, etc, rapidly

    • merchandise, mail, etc, conveyed by such a system

    • mainly US and Canadian an enterprise operating such a system

  1. Also called: express train a fast train stopping at none or only a few of the intermediate stations between its two termini

adverb
  1. by means of a special delivery or express delivery: it went express

Origin of express

1
C14: from Latin expressus, literally: squeezed out, hence, prominent, from exprimere to force out, from ex- 1 + premere to press

Derived forms of express

  • expresser, noun
  • expressible, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012