express
Americanverb (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.
- 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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
expressessimple
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have expressedperfect
-
has expressedperfect
-
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
Pronto advertises hourly services ranging from window cleaning to "after-party express clean-ups", while Urban Company offers everything from repairs to salon treatments at the touch of a button.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
"I understand people who express their position…..The position of society has been heard."
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 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
I had almost forgotten that humans can modulate their voices to express the emotion they are feeling.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
"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
Wearing overalls and a cap emblazoned with "Billionaire's Boys Club", he expresses profound regret over the seven years he has worked as a goon.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
During Mass before a match, Carballo expresses good wishes and hopes the best team wins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
“The Little Sister” leaves much unspoken, which is fitting for a protagonist who rarely expresses herself in clear terms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
Is the explanation any more absurd than that accepted by those who believe the woman who maintains that she is the channel through which a 35,000-year-old man expresses himself?
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
A mayoral spokesperson said the board is independent and expressed confidence that it had evaluated all relevant data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 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
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
The night before, Hernandez and Burke got into an argument where she expressed “jealousy” over his relationships with other women, according to the filing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
"Some start wearing shorter skirts or dyeing their hair. Once people begin expressing themselves, it affects a system where everyone is supposed to think and move together."
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
The chatbots are supposed to refer people expressing suicidal thoughts to crisis services, and companies can face civil penalties for failing to comply with safety protocols.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 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
There was a certain vapidity to her reassurance, an automatic way of expressing goodwill, which did not require any concrete efforts on her part to help him.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
