message
Americannoun
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messages
plural
-
a communication containing some information, news, advice, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, email, or other means.
-
an official communication, as from a chief executive to a legislative body.
the president's message to Congress.
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Digital Technology. a post or reply on an online message board.
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the inspired utterance of a prophet or sage.
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the point, moral, or meaning of a gesture, utterance, novel, motion picture, etc.
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Computers. a warning, permission, etc., communicated by the system or software to the user.
an error message;
a message to allow blocked content.
verb (used without object)
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messages,
present (3rd person singular)
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messaged,
past participle, past
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messaging
present participle
verb (used with object)
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messages,
present (3rd person singular)
-
messaged,
past participle, past
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messaging
present participle
-
to send (a person) a message.
-
to send as a message.
idioms
noun
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a communication, usually brief, from one person or group to another
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an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art
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a formal communiqué
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an inspired communication of a prophet or religious leader
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a mission; errand
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(plural) shopping
going for the messages
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informal to understand what is meant
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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messagesimple
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messagessimple
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have messagedperfect
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has messagedperfect
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am messagingprogressive
-
are messagingprogressive
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is messagingprogressive
-
have been messagingperfect progressive
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has been messagingperfect progressive
Past
-
messagedsimple
-
had messagedperfect
-
was messagingprogressive
-
were messagingprogressive
-
had been messagingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of message
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin miss(us) “sent” (past participle of mittere “to send”) + -āticum -age
Explanation
A message is a communication or statement conveyed from one person or group to another. If you call my house phone and I’m out running an errand, you’ll be asked to “please leave a message after the beep.” Generally transmitted verbally or in writing, a message can also be sent via a look or a gesture. In today’s world, people tend to use email to send a short message. But in ye olden days, pre-internet and when the post was faster, people relied on the art of letter writing to send a message. The noun can also have a moral or pointed implication. For instance, the story's moral message was to always tell the truth.
Vocabulary lists containing message
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Common Core Grade 6, List 1
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Common Core Grade 5, List 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:
Enthusiastic message boards, blogs dedicated to any niche you could find in any hobby, news and culture websites as renowned for sharp commenters as their stable of writers.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
The liturgical norms to be respected "are not constraints but guidelines, rules, fixed points," he said, calling sacred art "an absolutely important message of revelation".
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
But he reiterated the message that it was fine for people to buy British eggs from supermarkets as chickens bred here are vaccinated against common strains of salmonella.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Suddenly nobody knows what the real message is,” Crandall told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
I just didn’t think that message would inspire Red to respond.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
At Hunter Bookstore, she discovered a wall covered in black sticky notes, where visitors had left messages of encouragement for those affected by the tragedy.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Last fall, a federal bankruptcy judge ordered the network liquidated, finding evidence that McGraw deleted text messages to conceal plans favoring certain creditors over others.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Although he was using a messaging app designed to be anonymous, police were able to trace the messages to his home and then carried out an early morning raid.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
She suggests crafting messages that offer the pretense of networking while preserving ambiguity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Working rap by rap, letter by letter, even simple messages took a long time to translate.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Minutes later, after giving me her son’s number and him mine, Fox messaged me: “Hey Charlie this is Joshua fox my mom sent your information to me.”
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
Then in July, the same man messaged that Muzirikazi was dead.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
"Honestly, men barely responded when I messaged first on Bumble," said one person, while another claimed the "majority" of men they messaged "let our matches expire."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
They spoke on the phone but mostly messaged back and forth on WhatsApp, and he said he never met with anyone from the firm in person.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
I had texted Jake, who’s in my math class, and messaged a few other kids on Facebook.
From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio
"Serious political messaging, packaged as reels, can still be trolled."
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
It would be difficult for the minutes to add to their hawkish messaging.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
She added to the informant on an encrypted messaging app that she had "picked up some anarchist literature at the social justice center" which "could have some good tips."
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
I think this does increase and improve our messaging.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
“In terms of text messaging, this is the first,” Dr. Strayer answered.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
