address

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

/ noun əˈdrɛs, ˈæd rɛs; verb əˈdrɛs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR address 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 initial capital letter) 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.

to direct (data) to a specified location in an electronic 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.

Nearby words

addlebrained, addled, addlepated, addn., addnl., address, address bar, addressable, addressee, addressing machine, addressograph

Origin of address

1300–50; Middle English adressen to adorn < Middle French adresser. See a-⁵, dress

SYNONYMS FOR address

1 discourse, lecture. See speech.

5 adroitness, cleverness, ingenuity, tact.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR address ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for addressed

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
In January, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf addressed the country optimistically.
Liberia’s Ebola Famine|Abby Haglage, Nina Strochlic|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In his opinion, Rio Tinto has not addressed this provision of the comprehensive sanctions against Iran.
McCain Helps a Business Partner of Iran|Ben Jacobs|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Chatham had addressed him living, in verse, and peers sought for the honour of supporting the pall at his funeral.
Their Majesties' Servants (Volume 2 of 3)|John Doran
Addressed to impertinent persons who find fault with the personal appearance or dress of others.
The Proverbs of Scotland|Alexander Hislop
He was an evangelical transcendentalist, and for many years addressed large and cultured congregations in New York City.
The World's Great Sermons, Volume 6: H. W. Beecher to Punshon|Various
He then went up to Rockley, snuff-box in hand, and addressed him as he was leaning against the chimney-piece.
The Master of the Ceremonies|George Manville Fenn
I found her lying very quietly, with the traces of tears still on her face; she addressed me quite gently.
Uncle Max|Rosa Nouchette Carey

British Dictionary definitions for addressed

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 Formsaddresser 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

Word Origin and History for addressed (1 of 2)

address

1530s, "dutiful or courteous approach," from address (v.) and from French adresse. Sense of "formal speech" is from 1751. Sense of "superscription of a letter" is from 1712 and led to the meaning "place of residence" (1888).

Word Origin and History for addressed (1 of 2)

address

early 14c., "to guide or direct," from Old French adrecier "go straight toward; straighten, set right; point, direct" (13c.), from Vulgar Latin *addirectiare "make straight," from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + *directiare, from Latin directus "straight, direct" (see direct (v.)). Late 14c. as "to set in order, repair, correct." Meaning "to write as a destination on a written message" is from mid-15c. Meaning "to direct spoken words (to someone)" is from late 15c. Related: Addressed; addressing.

address

noun

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

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

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of address

Examples from the Web for addressed

British Dictionary definitions for addressed

address

noun

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

Word Origin for address

Word Origin and History for addressed (1 of 2)

address

Word Origin and History for addressed (1 of 2)

address