express
Americanverb (used with object)
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expresses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
expressed,
past participle, past
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expressing
present participle
-
to put (thought) into words; utter or state.
to express an idea clearly.
-
to show, manifest, or reveal.
to express one's anger.
- Synonyms:
- indicate
- Antonyms:
- conceal
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to set forth the opinions, feelings, etc., of (oneself ), as in speaking, writing, or painting.
He can express himself eloquently.
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to represent by a symbol, character, figure, or formula.
to express water as H2O; to express unknown quantities algebraically.
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to send by express.
to express a package or merchandise.
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to press or squeeze out.
to express the juice of grapes.
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to exude or emit (a liquid, odor, etc.), as if under pressure.
The roses expressed a sweet perfume.
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Genetics. (of a gene) to be active in the production of (a protein or a phenotype).
adjective
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clearly indicated; distinctly stated; definite; explicit; plain.
He defied my express command.
- Synonyms:
- unambiguous, obvious
-
special; definite.
We have an express purpose in being here.
- Synonyms:
- singular, particular
-
direct or fast, especially making few or no intermediate stops.
an express train;
an express elevator.
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used for direct or high-speed travel.
an express highway.
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duly or exactly formed or represented.
an express image.
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pertaining to an express.
an express agency.
noun
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expresses
plural
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an express train, bus, elevator, etc.
-
a system or method of sending freight, parcels, money, etc., that is faster and safer, but more expensive, than ordinary freight service.
We agree to send the package by express.
- Synonyms:
- courier
-
a company engaged in this business.
-
British. a messenger or a message specially sent.
-
something sent by express.
adverb
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by express.
to travel express.
-
Obsolete. expressly.
verb
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to transform (ideas) into words; utter; verbalize
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to show or reveal; indicate
tears express grief
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to communicate (emotion, etc) without words, as through music, painting, etc
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to indicate through a symbol, formula, etc
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to force or squeeze out
to express the juice from an orange
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to send by rapid transport or special messenger
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to communicate one's thoughts or ideas
adjective
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clearly indicated or shown; explicitly stated
an express wish
-
done or planned for a definite reason or goal; particular
an express purpose
-
of, concerned with, or designed for rapid transportation of people, merchandise, mail, money, etc
express delivery
an express depot
noun
-
-
a system for sending merchandise, mail, money, etc, rapidly
-
merchandise, mail, etc, conveyed by such a system
-
an enterprise operating such a system
-
-
Also called: express train. a fast train stopping at none or only a few of the intermediate stations between its two termini
-
See express rifle
adverb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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expressernoun
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expressornoun
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superexpressnoun
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overexpressverb (used with object)
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preexpressverb (used with object)
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reexpressverb (used with object)
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expressibleadjective
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expresslessadjective
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quasi-expressedadjective
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unexpressibleadjective
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well-expressedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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expresssimple
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expressessimple
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have expressedperfect
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has expressedperfect
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am expressingprogressive
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are expressingprogressive
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is expressingprogressive
-
have been expressingperfect progressive
-
has been expressingperfect progressive
Past
-
expressedsimple
-
had expressedperfect
-
was expressingprogressive
-
were expressingprogressive
-
had been expressingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of express
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English expressen, from Latin expressus “pressed out,” past participle of exprimere “to press out”; see ex- 1 ( def. ), press 1 ( def. )
Explanation
When something goes fast, it goes express — like a train that skips many stops. You also express your feelings and thoughts. When you want something sent quickly, send it by express mail. When you give your opinion, you're expressing yourself. Writing music and poems are also examples of expressing yourself. Mathematical formulas express complex ideas. In genetics, a gene might be expressed by making you bald.
Vocabulary lists containing express
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 3
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STAAR English I: The Language of the Test 1
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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:
"As a consumer, you have a lot of power as well. You can express your views on this in the comment section," she said.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
While young people were "legitimately concerned" about their future and public services, they must express themselves in a calm fashion, he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
“We have to be able to express ideas in ways that some people might not like, some people might find offensive,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
WS Game finally found a partner in game manufacturer Cartamundi Group, the only traditional game maker with a U.S. factory to express interest in the project.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Representatives from the Deep South rose to express their outrage that the forbidden subject was again being allowed into public view.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
One student expresses shock at being targeted at a place they chose because they thought they’d feel safe.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2026
Florence and its surroundings move Muratov profoundly, especially because this region best expresses the 15th-century Renaissance, or Quattrocento, in which he senses “the beating of a great heart pulsing with pure and noble blood.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
It’s a sunny afternoon in the Mexican capital, and the disarming sweetness with which he expresses his thoughts mirrors the band’s vulnerable soundscapes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
That sense of autonomy shaped how she expresses herself online today, and she believes that a revived MySpace should avoid the algorithmic, pay-to-play dynamics that dominate modern platforms.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
He’s always making excuses—“She didn’t mean nothing by it,” “She’s yanking your chain”—when Dina does things like intone “the Tribe has spoken” when Molly expresses an opinion.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
A second population, which did not produce 15-PGDH but expressed genes linked to fibrocartilage formation, fell from 16% to 8%.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
An assortment of politicians and watchdog groups have expressed concern about campaigns using generative AI to produce deepfakes – synthetic videos showing people doing things they did not do – that might deceive voters.
From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026
The youngster's camp had expressed a desire for Gabriel to be used as a substitute against Sabah - which, on paper, was the easiest of United's league-phase games.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Turkey has expressed frustration to both sides and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the UN General Assembly the attacks were "unacceptable".
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
School groups and veterans organizations expressed their sympathy.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
After one week of treatment with the 15-PGDH inhibitor, the human tissue contained fewer chondrocytes expressing 15-PGDH.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
The author himself was conflicted about her, writing Cathy as a dangerous beauty incapable of empathy in his book, yet expressing how dear she was to him in letters to his editor, Pascal Covici.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
More than 200 people from a Protestant background have put their names to a letter to the UK and Irish governments, expressing concern over the dispute.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
She spends three stanzas working herself up to expressing her pain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
The alternative histories hypothesis sounds rather like Richard Feynman’s way of expressing quantum theory as a sum over histories, which was described in Chapters 4 and 8.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
