expression

[ ik-spresh-uhn ]

/ ɪkˈsprɛʃ ən /

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See synonyms for: expression / expressions / expressionless on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of expressing or setting forth in words: the free expression of political opinions.

a particular word, phrase, or form of words: old-fashioned expressions.

the manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing: delicacy of expression.

the power of expressing in words: joy beyond expression.

indication of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution: the lyric expression embodied in his poetry.

a look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc.: a shocked expression.

the quality or power of expressing an attitude, emotion, etc.: a face that lacks expression; to read with expression.

the act of expressing or representing, as by symbols.

Mathematics. a symbol or a combination of symbols representing a value, relation, or the like.

Linguistics. the stylistic characteristics of an utterance (opposed to meaning).

Linguistics. the system of verbal utterances specific to a language (opposed to content¹).

the act of expressing or pressing out.

Computers. a combination of variables, constants, and functions linked by operation symbols and any required punctuation that describe a rule for calculating a value.

Genetics.

the action of a gene in the production of a protein or a phenotype.
expressivity (def. 2).

OTHER WORDS FOR expression

1 utterance, declaration, assertion, statement.

2 term, idiom.

3 language, diction, phraseology.

5 manifestation, sign.

6 aspect, air.

See synonyms for expression on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of expression

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin expressiōn- (stem of expressiō) “a pressing out.” See express, -ion

synonym study for expression

2. See phrase.

OTHER WORDS FROM expression

ex·pres·sion·al, adjectiveex·pres·sion·less, adjectiveex·pres·sion·less·ly, adverbpre·ex·pres·sion, noun

re·ex·pres·sion, nounsu·per·ex·pres·sion, noun

Words nearby expression

expounding, ex-president, express, expressage, express delivery, expression, Expressionism, expression mark, expressive, expressive aphasia, expressivity

How to use expression in a sentence

You can admire the ambition, but in the end, the feeling is of art as an expression of imperialism.
Sculpture parks are a great way to see art during a pandemic. Here’s why some are better than others.|Sebastian Smee|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Children might try tracking a speaker’s lips, watching a speaker’s facial expressions, or following where a speaker is looking.
Learning a second language early might have ripple effects throughout your life|Rahul Rao|February 9, 2021|Popular-Science
Online communities that frame themselves as refuges for free expression often find themselves pulled to the fringes, forcing members to either confront the shift or tolerate increasingly radical ideas.
TheDonald’s owner speaks out on why he finally pulled plug on hate-filled site|Craig Timberg, Drew Harwell|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
Humans evolved to survive by communicating and responding to cues, down to minuscule shifts in tone and expression.
Video conferences are here to stay, even after we go back to the office. Get used to it.|Karla Miller|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

While the expression “cold hands, warm heart” is considered a compliment, we prefer to have a warm heart and warm hands.
Best winter gloves: Our picks for touch screen gloves, ski gloves, and more|PopSci Commerce Team|February 2, 2021|Popular-Science
It was also an attack on our freedom of expression and way of life.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Tu eres como chuleria en pote,” goes the Puerto Rican expression that gave rise to his moniker.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, he is cruelly jailed solely for the peaceful expression of his beliefs.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.
Sony: Hollywood’s Most Subversive Studio Under Attack|Marlow Stern|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However the expression on his face offered some explanation.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is most peculiar, and when he plays that way, the most bewitching little expression comes over his face.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Of course the expression of this value is modified and characterized by the nature of the thing spoken of.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
All elements of expression modify each other, so that no mere rule can cover all cases.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
At the mention of the Merrill Horse, Poindexter's countenance took on a demoniac expression.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Various impulses urged him into a pouring flood of words; yet he gave expression to none of them.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for expression

expression

/ (ɪkˈsprɛʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of transforming ideas into words

a manifestation of an emotion, feeling, etc, without wordstears are an expression of grief

communication of emotion through music, painting, etc

a look on the face that indicates mood or emotiona joyful expression

the choice of words, phrases, syntax, intonation, etc, in communicating

a particular phrase used conventionally to express somethinga dialect expression

the act or process of forcing or squeezing out a liquid

maths a variable, function, or some combination of constants, variables, or functions

genetics the effect of a particular gene on the phenotype

Derived forms of expression

expressional, adjectiveexpressionless, adjectiveexpressionlessly, adverb

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

expression

OTHER WORDS FOR expression

Origin of expression

synonym study for expression

OTHER WORDS FROM expression

Words nearby expression

Words related to expression

How to use expression in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for expression

Derived forms of expression