express

[ik-spres]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR express 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.

Origin of express

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

Related formsex·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

Synonyms for express

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR express ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Antonyms for express

2. conceal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for expresses

disclose, reveal, give, suggest, show, communicate, hint, declare, assert, indicate, say, convey, put, voice, tell, speak, exhibit, represent, insinuate, formulate

Examples from the Web for expresses

Contemporary Examples of expresses

When he expresses concern over her bruised and disheveled appearance, she lies and tells him that she fainted.
How Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt Navigated Anna's Controversial Rape Arc
Kevin Fallon
August 14, 2014
Also, he gave a lame excuse: ‘I couldn't find a pic that expresses both sides.’
Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire Posts Pro-Palestine Photo, Allegedly Cyberbullies Israeli-Born MTV VJ
Robert Silverman
July 14, 2014
But in reality, the sentiment it expresses is deeply serious.
How One Doctor Mastered the Art of Delivering Life-Changing Diagnoses
Russell Saunders
March 22, 2014
There is a film of their first American press conference that expresses this perfectly.
What It Was Like to Watch the Beatles Become the Beatles—Nik Cohn Remembers
Nik Cohn
February 9, 2014
Percy expresses her own disbelief not by direct pronouncements but with ironic juxtapositions.
Possessed by PTSD, A Veteran Uses Exorcisms to Cast Out His Demons
Brian Van Reet
February 2, 2014

Historical Examples of expresses

It expresses the same transparent innocence, the same mild love.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
He expresses Himself through me; He expresses Himself through them; we all.
The Conquest of Fear
Basil King
Occasionally it expresses the opinion only of its own members.
The Story of the Malakand Field Force
Sir Winston S. Churchill
It expresses their nature and the Plains that made their nature.
Johnny Bear
E. T. Seton
When she is, as she expresses it, "moved to sin," nobody of her own colour can manage her.
Things as They Are
Amy Wilson-Carmichael

British Dictionary definitions for expresses

express

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 Canadianan 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 Formsexpresser, 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

Word Origin and History for expresses

express

late 14c., from Old French espresser "press, squeeze out; speak one's mind" (Modern French exprimer), Medieval Latin expressare, frequentative of exprimere "represent, describe," literally "to press out" (source of Italian espresso; the sense evolution here is perhaps via an intermediary sense of something like "clay that takes under pressure takes the form of an image"), from ex- "out" (see ex-) + pressare "to press, push," from Latin premere (see press (v.1)). Related: Expressed; expresses; expressing.

express

adj.

late 14c., from Old French expres, from Latin expressus "clearly presented," past participle of exprimere (see express (v.)). This led to the noun (first attested 1610s) meaning "special messenger." Sense of "business or system for sending money or parcels" is 1794. An express train (1841) originally ran to a certain station.

expresses in Medicine

express

[ĭk-sprĕs′]

v.

To press or squeeze out.

To produce a phenotype. Used of a gene.