express
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to put (thought) into words; utter or state.
to express an idea clearly.
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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
-
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.
-
used for direct or high-speed travel.
an express highway.
-
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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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
-
by express.
to travel express.
-
Obsolete. expressly.
verb
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to transform (ideas) into words; utter; verbalize
-
to show or reveal; indicate
tears express grief
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to communicate (emotion, etc) without words, as through music, painting, etc
-
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
-
clearly indicated or shown; explicitly stated
an express wish
-
done or planned for a definite reason or goal; particular
an express purpose
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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
-
expressornoun
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superexpressnoun
-
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:
But she opposes funding for the express purpose of buying and producing more missiles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
"And of course, we want to make a societal impact and Juva in Latin means 'to help'. So we really wanted to express that in the name as well."
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Tickets for the latter are currently on sale, and Universal is promising access to Hollywood Drift for those who purchase its line-skipping express pass, which starts at $259.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
No. As a born-and-raised Mainer, I’ve followed many a social media thread in which former Platner supporters express suspicion that his replacement won’t reflect the progressive platform they voted for.
From Slate ● Jul. 16, 2026
Hanging on to femininity was a concrete way to express your womanhood.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
"Glioblastoma is metabolically reprogrammed and expresses GLUT1 at three times the levels of normal brain tissue, so the particles preferentially accumulate in tumor tissue after crossing the blood-brain barrier," Olena Taratula said.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
Even at the lowest point of a wind turbine, Witek expresses his awe at "the feeling of freedom" compared to the fourteen years he spent at the bottom of a mine.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
“SNL” cast member James Austin Johnson expresses his fondness for the restaurant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
During Mass before a match, Carballo expresses good wishes and hopes the best team wins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
Architecture becomes memorable only when it expresses a transcendent vision, whether personal, social, or spiritual.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
In a November social-media post, Roh expressed nostalgia as she prepared to leave the home where she had raised a family and lived for 37 years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Elsewhere on X, Musk expressed support for the idea of hiring Mel Gibson to direct a version of “The Odyssey” entirely in Homeric Greek, with a focus on historical accuracy and fealty to Greek culture.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
At the California Institute of the Arts, administrators expressed concern about judging earnings four years after graduation given the nature of the field they are teaching.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
A consortium led by British-Indian millionaire businessman Amit Bhatia has expressed an interest in buying a minority stake in Liverpool.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
While some expressed pro-Nazi sentiments, few companies were prepared to act on them, so actual spies were rare.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
It is part of a growing chorus of online media companies expressing frustration with the tech giant as AI changes the way people ask questions, siphons off search traffic and upends publishers’ revenue models.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
"We have consistently made clear our expectations that charges should reflect the gravity of the tragedy. This includes the Prime Minister and I expressing these expectations directly to our respective counterparts."
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The protesters, many of them carrying the Ukrainian flags and placards expressing support for Fedorov, gathered in the capital for the second day running to protest the decision, an AFP journalist saw.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
“I love Farage, he’s a good boy,” said John Hill, 77, expressing a widely held view that he delivers for the town.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
“I can't quite explain—but especially for expressing a mood, it’s a joy.”
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
