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

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

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

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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

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

How to use address in a sentence

There are, however, systemic problems that must be addressed.
Are Police Stealing People’s Property?|Joan Blades, Matt Kibbe|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Christians should have addressed that conflict more forcefully over the holidays.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The trickiest items having been placed in the “freezer” to be addressed at a later date.
Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?|Richard McColl|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The last time a Pope addressed the parliament in Strasbourg was in 1988 when an Iron Curtain still divided the continent.
Pope’s Blistering Attack on ‘Haggard’ Europe|Nico Hines|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In January, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf addressed the country optimistically.
Liberia’s Ebola Famine|Abby Haglage, Nina Strochlic|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A distinguished-looking man, evidently vested with authority, bustled forward and addressed him, civilly enough.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Then she put her anger from her; put from her, too, the insolence and scorn with which so lavishly she had addressed him hitherto.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
In bewilderment she brought the ark into the room, and read the letter addressed to Janet and herself.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The old postman says it was insufficiently addressed, or it 'ud ha' been here by first post.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
My No. 4239 addressed to Maxwell and repeated to you was sent before receiving your telegram under reply.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

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

OTHER WORDS FOR address

Origin of address

synonym study for address

OTHER WORDS FROM 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