address

[ noun uh-dres, ad-res; verb uh-dres ]

/ noun əˈdrɛs, ˈæd rɛs; verb əˈdrɛs /

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See synonyms for: address / addressed / addresses / addressing on Thesaurus.com

Definition of address

noun

a speech or written statement, usually formal, directed to a particular group of persons: the president's address on the state of the economy.

a direction as to the intended recipient, written on or attached to a piece of mail.

the place or the name of the place where a person, organization, or the like is located or may be reached: What is your address when you're in Des Moines?

manner of speaking to persons; personal bearing in conversation.

skillful and expeditious management; ready skill; dispatch: to handle a matter with address.

Computers.

a label, as an integer, symbol, or other set of characters, designating a location, register, etc., where information is stored in computer memory.
a set of characters designating an email account: Her email address ends in “.net,” not “.com.”
a set of characters designating the location of a website or a particular computer or other device on a network: He visits that website so often that its complete address comes up whenever he types its first letter into the address bar.See also URL

Government. a request to the executive by the legislature to remove a judge for unfitness.

Usually addresses. attentions paid by a suitor or lover; courtship.

Usually Address. the reply to the king's speech in the English Parliament.

Obsolete. preparation.

verb (used with object), ad·dressed, ad·dress·ing.

to direct a speech or written statement to: to address an assembly.

to use a specified form or title in speaking or writing to: Address the president as “Mr. President.”

to direct to the attention: He addressed his remarks to the lawyers in the audience.

to apply in speech (used reflexively, usually followed by to): He addressed himself to the leader.

to deal with or discuss: to address the issues.

to put the directions for delivery on: to address a letter.

Commerce. to consign or entrust to the care of another, as agent or factor.

to direct the energy or efforts of (usually followed by to): He addressed himself to the task.

Computers. to direct (data) to a specified memory location in a computer.

Golf. to take a stance and place the head of the club behind (the ball) preparatory to hitting it.

Obsolete. to woo; court.

Archaic. to give direction to; aim.

Obsolete. to prepare.

verb (used without object), ad·dressed or ad·drest, ad·dress·ing.Obsolete.

to make an appeal.

to make preparations.

OTHER WORDS FOR address

1 discourse, lecture.

5 adroitness, cleverness, ingenuity, tact.

See synonyms for address on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of address

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English adressen “to adorn,” from Middle French adresser; see a-⁵, dress

synonym study for address

1. See speech.

OTHER WORDS FROM address

ad·dress·er, ad·dres·sor, nounhalf-ad·dressed, adjectivepre·ad·dress, noun, verb (used with object)re·ad·dress, verb (used with object), re·ad·dressed, re·ad·dress·ing.

un·ad·dressed, adjectivewell-ad·dressed, adjective

Words nearby address

addled, addlepated, addn., addnl., add-on, address, addressable, address bar, addressee, addressing machine, Addressograph

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use address in a sentence

About two months ago, however, Lensable tweaked the pop-up and gave customers the option of either giving their email address or texting the brand to receive the discount code.
Fearing a holiday email onslaught, DTC startups turn to text messaging to promote sales|Anna Hensel|September 25, 2020|Digiday
While there are paid and premium VPNs that are generally more mindful about your privacy, they aren’t anonymous, as they can be linked to your billing address.
Free VPNs are bad for your privacy|Zack Whittaker|September 24, 2020|TechCrunch
Hillary Clinton has a new podcast, Betsy DeVos faces an ethics investigation, and the UN General Assembly begins without addresses from any female leaders.
The UN General Assembly is the ultimate ‘manel’|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 23, 2020|Fortune
Alyssa Samek, assistant professor at Cal State Fullerton, says that running is a “mode of public address.”
Behind the Scenes of a New Kind of Feminist Relay Race|Christine Yu|September 22, 2020|Outside Online

Only 10 percent of tests administered — 190 — were to people with Mexico addresses.
Border Report: New Challenges for Day Laborers|Adriana Heldiz and Maya Srikrishnan|September 21, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Many of those who have become cops in New York seem to have ceased to address such minor offenses over the past few days.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Stay in formation,” a sergeant from the ceremonial unit said over a public address system to the cops along the street.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In his State of the Union address 50 years ago, LBJ laid out his vision for the Great Society.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Left and right think the way to address racial strife is through policy.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Nor do these studies address the structural and systematic issues that contribute to obesity, such as poverty and stress.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail|Carrie Arnold|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Aristide uncovered his head, as though he were about to address a duchess, and smiled at her engagingly.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
But, he finally secured the address of a company who would manufacture a book to exceed 300 pages for fifty cents per book.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Truly the flag of Britain was trailing in the mire, or these men would not have dared to address him in that fashion.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Her Majesty passed through the town on the 30th of August, 1852, when an address was presented to her.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
His lordship suggested that Garrick should write an address to the audience for the players.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for address

address

/ (əˈdrɛs) /

noun

the conventional form by which the location of a building is described

the written form of this, as on a letter or parcel, preceded by the name of the person or organization for whom it is intended

the place at which someone lives

a speech or written communication, esp one of a formal nature

skilfulness or tact

archaic manner or style of speaking or conversation

computing a number giving the location of a piece of stored informationSee also direct access

British government a statement of the opinions or wishes of either or both Houses of Parliament that is sent to the sovereign

the alignment or position of a part, component, etc, that permits correct assembly or fitting

(usually plural) expressions of affection made by a man in courting a woman

verb -dresses, -dressing or -dressed or obsolete, or poetic -drest (tr)

to mark (a letter, parcel, etc) with an address

to speak to, refer to in speaking, or deliver a speech to

(used reflexively; foll by to)

to speak or write tohe addressed himself to the chairman
to apply oneself tohe addressed himself to the task

to direct (a message, warning, etc) to the attention of

to consign or entrust (a ship or a ship's cargo) to a factor, merchant, etc

to adopt a position facing (the ball in golf, a partner in a dance, the target in archery, etc)

to treat of; deal withchapter 10 addresses the problem of transitivity

an archaic word for woo

Derived forms of address

addresser or addressor, noun

Word Origin for address

C14: (in the sense: to make right, adorn) and c15 (in the modern sense: to direct words): via Old French from Vulgar Latin addrictiāre (unattested) to make straight, direct oneself towards, from Latin ad- to + dīrectus direct

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

address

Definition of address

OTHER WORDS FOR address

Origin of address

synonym study for address

OTHER WORDS FROM address

Words nearby address

Words related to address

How to use address in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for address

Derived forms of address

Word Origin for address