message
Americannoun
-
messages
plural
-
a communication containing some information, news, advice, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, email, or other means.
-
an official communication, as from a chief executive to a legislative body.
the president's message to Congress.
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Digital Technology. a post or reply on an online message board.
-
the inspired utterance of a prophet or sage.
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the point, moral, or meaning of a gesture, utterance, novel, motion picture, etc.
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Computers. a warning, permission, etc., communicated by the system or software to the user.
an error message;
a message to allow blocked content.
verb (used without object)
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messages,
present (3rd person singular)
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messaged,
past participle, past
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messaging
present participle
verb (used with object)
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messages,
present (3rd person singular)
-
messaged,
past participle, past
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messaging
present participle
-
to send (a person) a message.
-
to send as a message.
idioms
noun
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a communication, usually brief, from one person or group to another
-
an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art
-
a formal communiqué
-
an inspired communication of a prophet or religious leader
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a mission; errand
-
(plural) shopping
going for the messages
-
informal to understand what is meant
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
messagesimple
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messagessimple
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have messagedperfect
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has messagedperfect
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am messagingprogressive
-
are messagingprogressive
-
is messagingprogressive
-
have been messagingperfect progressive
-
has been messagingperfect progressive
Past
-
messagedsimple
-
had messagedperfect
-
was messagingprogressive
-
were messagingprogressive
-
had been messagingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of message
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin miss(us) “sent” (past participle of mittere “to send”) + -āticum -age
Explanation
A message is a communication or statement conveyed from one person or group to another. If you call my house phone and I’m out running an errand, you’ll be asked to “please leave a message after the beep.” Generally transmitted verbally or in writing, a message can also be sent via a look or a gesture. In today’s world, people tend to use email to send a short message. But in ye olden days, pre-internet and when the post was faster, people relied on the art of letter writing to send a message. The noun can also have a moral or pointed implication. For instance, the story's moral message was to always tell the truth.
Vocabulary lists containing message
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Common Core Grade 6, List 1
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Common Core Grade 5, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Local message boards on Facebook show residents filling bags with sand to protect their homes and inquiring whether stores remained open in the early hours on Saturday.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
In a message Saturday to Cambridge's community, Prentice said she hoped "this painful and difficult time can also be one of compassion".
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Asked if he has relayed that message to Apple, Lutnick said “plainly.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
In a message to the crew aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, Hegseth said: “We’re going to do everything we can for you. We are so grateful for the dedication of that crew and others.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Yes she does. You delivered all the message she needs to hear.”
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Flores said his phone exploded with messages not just from people within the Cardinals, but from rival clubs as well.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
His channel, Aeris Rimor -- roughly derived from the Latin for Searcher of the Skies -- is one of dozens sending real-time messages about incoming drones and missiles.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Even the public versions, which political parties and candidates routinely obtain to target ads and messages, included voters’ addresses, birth dates and party affiliations.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Pagers are small battery operated radio receivers - popular in the 1980s and 1990s - that can receive short text messages, numbers to call, or alerts.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Unlike most wires, most neurons have many, many plugs so they can both relay messages and switch them.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
In November 2020, Rupireddy messaged Barish about how he had missed out on a few big IPOs recently and how he’d love to participate in buying stakes in Impossible Foods, SoFi and SpaceX.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
She didn’t say anything for two days, then messaged me at 4:30 p.m. on the Friday I had PTO.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
During that journey, Erin had messaged a group of friends at 01:57.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
One of my nieces recently messaged me about a sentence in a children’s book.
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
“She messaged you, didn’t she? What’d she say to you this time? That she misses you?”
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
Their messaging has remained understandably positive and confident in their product despite this dip in crowds.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
At the same time, Noonan is still a patient, one who was sick with pneumonia in the three weeks that Pulmozyme wasn’t available to her while she was calling and messaging her insurer and doctor.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
His office also is creating public messaging to deploy in various scenarios and factoring the potential dynamics around prediction markets into security planning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Fans have reiterated this messaging as her already thin frame became measurably smaller in the years since.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
I’m about to click off when Fizz pops up on instant messaging with a ?.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
