express

[ ik-spres ]

/ ɪkˈsprɛs /

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See synonyms for: express / expressed / expresses / expressing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to put (thought) into words; utter or state: to express an idea clearly.

to show, manifest, or reveal: to express one's anger.

to set forth the opinions, feelings, etc., of (oneself), as in speaking, writing, or painting: He can express himself eloquently.

to represent by a symbol, character, figure, or formula: to express water as H2O; to express unknown quantities algebraically.

to send by express: to express a package or merchandise.

to press or squeeze out: to express the juice of grapes.

to exude or emit (a liquid, odor, etc.), as if under pressure:The roses expressed a sweet perfume.

Genetics. (of a gene) to be active in the production of (a protein or a phenotype).

adjective

clearly indicated; distinctly stated; definite; explicit; plain: He defied my express command.

special; definite: We have an express purpose in being here.

direct or fast, especially making few or no intermediate stops: an express train; an express elevator.

used for direct or high-speed travel: an express highway.

duly or exactly formed or represented: an express image.

pertaining to an express: an express agency.

noun

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.

a company engaged in this business.

British. a messenger or a message specially sent.

something sent by express.

adverb

by express: to travel express.

Obsolete. expressly.

OTHER WORDS FOR express

1 declare, word, formulate.

2 indicate.

4 designate, signify, denote.

9 obvious, unambiguous.

10 particular, singular.

11 swift, rapid, nonstop.

13 accurate, precise.

16 courier.

See synonyms for express on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR express

2 conceal.

See antonyms for express on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of express

1275–1325; Middle English expressen<Latin expressus (past participle of exprimere). See ex-¹, press¹

OTHER WORDS FROM express

ex·press·er, ex·pres·sor, nounex·press·i·ble, adjectiveex·press·less, adjectiveo·ver·ex·press, verb (used with object)

pre·ex·press, verb (used with object)qua·si-ex·pressed, adjectivere·ex·press, verb (used with object)su·per·ex·press, nounun·ex·press·i·ble, adjectivewell-ex·pressed, adjective

Words nearby express

exposure index, exposure meter, expound, expounding, ex-president, express, expressage, express delivery, expression, Expressionism, expression mark

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use express in a sentence

By not expressing her concerns, she demonstrated an incredible lack of moral courage.
Former Pence aide says she will vote for Biden because of Trump’s ‘flat out disregard for human life’ during pandemic|Josh Dawsey|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
When cheer parent Jonathan Ingalls questioned the decision in messages on the BAND app, where parents communicate with coaches, other parents also chimed in to express concerns.
School Sports Became ‘Clubs’ Amid the Pandemic – Now Two Coaches Are Out|Ashly McGlone|September 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The Pennsylvania ruling is an example, she said, but judges have expressed qualms even in rulings that upheld restrictions.
Courts may reconsider temporary coronavirus restrictions as pandemic drags on|Anne Gearan, Karin Brulliard|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
The comments, which echo suspicions Biden has expressed in recent weeks, highlight the extraordinary division between the two candidates.
Biden questions whether a vaccine approved by Trump would be safe|Sean Sullivan|September 16, 2020|Washington Post

Olympus and Panasonic have both recently expressed their commitment to the much-smaller Micro Four Thirds format, but Canon’s EOS-R and Nikon’s first-generation Z mirrorless cameras have seriously come down in price.
Sony built a tiny mirrorless camera with a full-frame sensor inside|Stan Horaczek|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
He prefers to express himself through Twitter and leave it at that.
How James Woods Became Obama’s Biggest Twitter Troll|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course, police have constitutional rights to express themselves.
A Veteran’s View: NYC Cold War Between Cops and City Hall|Matt Gallagher|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The NYPD remained his ultimate goal as he went to work as a carrier for Airborne Express/DHL and then as a school safety officer.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The second is strangled tongue disease, the English inability to express real feelings in conversation.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?|Clive Irving|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The idea that I might simply want to express my independent thoughts was alien to them.
What It’s Like to Be an Atheist in Palestine|Waleed al-Husseini, Movements.Org|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is the development of character, the triumph of intellectuality and spirituality I have striven to express.'
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
The fire along the three miles front is like the rumble of an express train running over fog signals.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
If one has thoughts to express, it is possible to learn very soon some method of construction.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
You know I don't express myself easily; so, if I break out this way, you may know what I feel.
Confidence|Henry James
Tim says more by the vigor of his smoking than Perry Thomas could express in a year's oration.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for express

express

/ (ɪkˈsprɛs) /

verb (tr)

to transform (ideas) into words; utter; verbalize

to show or reveal; indicatetears express grief

to communicate (emotion, etc) without words, as through music, painting, etc

to indicate through a symbol, formula, etc

to force or squeeze outto express the juice from an orange

to send by rapid transport or special messenger

express oneself to communicate one's thoughts or ideas

adjective (prenominal)

clearly indicated or shown; explicitly statedan express wish

done or planned for a definite reason or goal; particularan express purpose

of, concerned with, or designed for rapid transportation of people, merchandise, mail, money, etcexpress delivery; an express depot

noun

a system for sending merchandise, mail, money, etc, rapidly
merchandise, mail, etc, conveyed by such a system
mainly US and Canadian 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

by means of a special delivery or express deliveryit went express

Derived forms of express

expresser, nounexpressible, adjective

Word Origin for express

C14: from Latin expressus, literally: squeezed out, hence, prominent, from exprimere to force out, from ex- 1 + premere to press

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

express

OTHER WORDS FOR express

OPPOSITES FOR express

Origin of express

OTHER WORDS FROM express

Words nearby express

Words related to express

How to use express in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for express

Derived forms of express

Word Origin for express