address

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

noun

1. a speech or written statement, usually formal, directed to a particular group of persons:

   the president's address on the state of the economy.

   Synonyms: lecture, discourse

2. a direction as to the intended recipient, written on or attached to a piece of mail.
3. 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?

4. manner of speaking to persons; personal bearing in conversation.
5. skillful and expeditious management; ready skill; dispatch:

   to handle a matter with address.

   Synonyms: cleverness, adroitness, tact, ingenuity

6. Computers.
   1. a label, as an integer, symbol, or other set of characters, designating a location, register, etc., where information is stored in computer memory.
   2. a set of characters designating an email account:

      Her email address ends in “.net,” not “.com.”

   3. a set of characters designating the location of a website or a particular computer or other device on a network: URL

      He visits that website so often that its complete address comes up whenever he types its first letter into the address bar.

7. Government. a request to the executive by the legislature to remove a judge for unfitness.
8. Usually addresses. attentions paid by a suitor or lover; courtship.
9. Usually Address. the reply to the king's speech in the English Parliament.
10. Obsolete. preparation.

verb (used with object)

, ad·dressed, ad·dress·ing.

1. to direct a speech or written statement to:

   to address an assembly.

2. to use a specified form or title in speaking or writing to:

   Address the president as “Mr. President.”

3. to direct to the attention:

   He addressed his remarks to the lawyers in the audience.

4. to apply in speech (used reflexively, usually followed by to ):

   He addressed himself to the leader.

5. to deal with or discuss:

   to address the issues.

6. to put the directions for delivery on:

   to address a letter.

7. Commerce. to consign or entrust to the care of another, as agent or factor.
8. to direct the energy or efforts of (usually followed by to ):

   He addressed himself to the task.

9. Computers. to direct (data) to a specified memory location in a computer.
10. Golf. to take a stance and place the head of the club behind (the ball) preparatory to hitting it.
11. Obsolete. to woo; court.
12. Archaic. to give direction to; aim.
13. Obsolete. to prepare.

verb (used without object)

, Obsolete.

, ad·dressed or ad·drest, ad·dress·ing.

1. to make an appeal.
2. to make preparations.

address

/ əˈdrɛs /

noun

1. the conventional form by which the location of a building is described
2. 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
3. the place at which someone lives
4. a speech or written communication, esp one of a formal nature
5. skilfulness or tact
6. archaic.
   manner or style of speaking or conversation
7. computing a number giving the location of a piece of stored information See also direct access
8. government a statement of the opinions or wishes of either or both Houses of Parliament that is sent to the sovereign
9. the alignment or position of a part, component, etc, that permits correct assembly or fitting
10. usually plural expressions of affection made by a man in courting a woman

verb

1. to mark (a letter, parcel, etc) with an address
2. to speak to, refer to in speaking, or deliver a speech to
3. used reflexively; foll by to
   1. to speak or write to

      he addressed himself to the chairman

   2. to apply oneself to

      he addressed himself to the task

4. to direct (a message, warning, etc) to the attention of
5. to consign or entrust (a ship or a ship's cargo) to a factor, merchant, etc
6. to adopt a position facing (the ball in golf, a partner in a dance, the target in archery, etc)
7. to treat of; deal with

   chapter 10 addresses the problem of transitivity

8. an archaic word for woo

Derived Forms

• adˈdresser, noun

Other Words From

• ad·dress·er ad·dres·sor noun
• half-ad·dressed adjective
• pre·ad·dress noun verb (used with object)
• re·ad·dress verb (used with object) readdressed readdressing
• un·ad·dressed adjective
• well-ad·dressed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of address¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of address¹

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

Synonym Study

See speech.

Example Sentences

Sixty years earlier, the specter of anti-Catholic prejudice led Kennedy to address the question of how his Catholicism would affect his conduct in the White House.

From Salon

"We need greater support to address planning delays, local council resistance and grid connectivity challenges", he says.

From BBC

Department of Homeland Security Investigations intercepted internationally shipped packages addressed to one of the 17-year-olds living at a residence in Santa Rosa Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

She said a lack of landfill space in the country overall was one of the broader issues that needed addressing.

From BBC

Both tourists and Spanish residents will be required to provide information, which will also include phone numbers, email addresses and the number of travellers.

From BBC

Related Words

• home
• location
• number
• ZIP code