convey
Americanverb (used with object)
-
conveys,
present (3rd person singular)
-
conveyed,
past participle, past
-
conveying
present participle
verb
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to take, carry, or transport from one place to another
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to communicate (a message, information, etc)
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(of a channel, path, etc) to conduct, transmit, or transfer
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law to transmit or transfer (the title to property)
-
archaic to steal
Synonym Usage
See carry.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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conveysimple
-
conveyssimple
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have conveyedperfect
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has conveyedperfect
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am conveyingprogressive
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are conveyingprogressive
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is conveyingprogressive
-
have been conveyingperfect progressive
-
has been conveyingperfect progressive
Past
-
conveyedsimple
-
had conveyedperfect
-
was conveyingprogressive
-
were conveyingprogressive
-
had been conveyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of convey
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English conveyen, from Anglo-French conveier, from unattested Vulgar Latin conviāre, equivalent to con- “with, together, completely” + -viāre, derivative of via “way”; see con- ( def. ), via ( def. )
Explanation
When you convey something, you carry or deliver it. Little Red Riding Hood conveyed a basket of muffins to her grandmother. Your sad smile might convey more about your feelings than words ever could. You can also convey a message or information, which means that you communicate it to someone directly or indirectly through your words or actions. In law, the word convey means to transfer or pass property to someone. This verb is from Middle English conveyen, from Old French conveier, ultimately from the Latin prefix com-, "together," plus via, "way."
Vocabulary lists containing convey
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 2
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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:
A few tracks draw on the cool, studied air of “No Line on the Horizon,” though they are hampered by lyrics that don’t convey much of anything.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026
The CNN team had a 10-ton weight pressing down on them and still managed to convey the sense of celebration presumably gripping most of its viewers.
From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2026
It is difficult to adequately convey the difference between experiencing 16 wakeful hours per day and white-knuckling your way through a brutal 20.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
It was always going to be difficult for Warsh to convey a “hawkish pause,” he said, or an aggressive stance on fighting inflation, “unless there was a good explanation for why the Fed didn’t go.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
How am I going to convey to him that it’s absolutely dire that he mentor me?
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
The plainness is deliberate; Fields conveys quiet comfort and adoring acceptance without ever slipping into sentimentality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Wile E. Coyote conveys his hunger in a glower.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
A CeraVe TikTok touting a “looksmaxxing protocol” parodied “bone smashing” en route to advertising lotion, while Carl’s Jr. said its sandwich name conveys an “all-in mindset” in a culturally resonant way.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Kiki’s willingness to help others conveys a more important teaching about interdependence as an integral part of independence.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
He conveys his message through jokes or by spinning a lesson out of a popular movie or song.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Melania Trump was credited by all for playing a key though unspecified role in the ceasefire, and all parties conveyed to her the gratitude of the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
"In coordination with the Iranian president, Putin conveyed the Iranian side's views on a possible resolution to the conflict to Trump," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday, according to Russia's state RIA news agency.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
The airline has previously conveyed its interest in finding an additional lender that would approve the applicants that JPMorgan rejects, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
He specified in his statement the venues took issue with “how Macklemore conveyed part of his message,” but not “everything that was said.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
The first part betrayed nervousness—it did not come to the point, but conveyed an invitation to participate in a meeting on proteins to which he had decided to add a section on nucleic acids.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
The Spanish royal household said on X it was "shocked and concerned" by the accident, conveying its support to the victims, their loved ones and the emergency services.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Hayes is the founder and a managing member of hedge fund Great Hill Capital, and he was conveying his contrarian views on David Lin’s podcast, which first aired Tuesday.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
Children in the study looked at faces conveying different emotions onscreen, and eye tracking technology recorded where their attention veered.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
“The Regan Offeror stated that they were ‘extremely careful’ with their language when conveying Regan’s offer, as they were aware that what they said could be misconstrued as extortion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
They used harmony as an additional layer of subtlety and effect, even by using discords to intensify the meaning of texts conveying suffering, loss or anguish.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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