email

American  

[ee-meyl] / ˈiˌmeɪl /

Or e-mail

noun

emails plural

1. a system for sending messages to one or more recipients via telecommunications links between computers using dedicated software or a web-based service.

   Communication by email is almost instantaneous.

2. a message sent by email.

   Send me an email about that idea, and I'll get back to you.

3. an address at which a person can receive email messages.

   He’s got my phone number and email in case he needs to contact me.

---

verb (used with object)

emails, present (3rd person singular) emailed, past participle, past emailing present participle

1. to send (a message or file) to (a person or organization) by email: I emailed the company but haven’t heard back yet.

   He emailed his response to the invitation.

   I emailed the company but haven’t heard back yet.

verb (used without object)

emails, present (3rd person singular) emailed, past participle, past emailing present participle

1. to send an email; communicate by email or exchange emails: We emailed back and forth for three weeks before actually meeting.

   She emailed to say she’ll be on vacation next week.

   We emailed back and forth for three weeks before actually meeting.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• emails
  plural

Participles

• emailing
  present
• emailed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• email
  simple
• emails
  simple
• have emailed
  perfect
• has emailed
  perfect
• are emailing
  progressive
• am emailing
  progressive
• is emailing
  progressive
• have been emailing
  perfect progressive
• has been emailing
  perfect progressive

Past

• emailed
  simple
• had emailed
  perfect
• was emailing
  progressive
• were emailing
  progressive
• had been emailing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will email
  simple
• will have emailed
  perfect
• will be emailing
  progressive
• will have been emailing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of email

First recorded in 1975–80; e(lectronic) + mail ¹

Explanation

Email is an electronic message that's sent from one computer to another. When you receive good news in an email, you can forward the message to your friends and family. Most email these days uses the Internet for connecting the sender and recipient. Unlike some other kinds of messaging, when you send an email to a friend, she doesn't have to be online at the same time to get your message. The next time she checks her email account, your email will be waiting for her. Email, sometimes spelled e-mail, is short for electronic mail, and was coined in the early 1980s.

Example Sentences

Email back saying you saw the coasters and you hope they sell, as to establish a positive rapport.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Email notifications for Drop 2 time slots will go out from Aug. 6-7.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Email the author at [email protected] or visit him on the web at www.karlrove.com.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Email exchanges in the latest US government release in January on Epstein included those sent while Mandelson was a member of Gordon Brown's cabinet.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

Email from Jay: Sorry I was an idiot.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin