message

[ mes-ij ]

/ ˈmɛs ɪdʒ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR message ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

Digital Technology. a post or reply on an online message board.

the inspired utterance of a prophet or sage.

the point, moral, or meaning of a gesture, utterance, novel, motion picture, etc.

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)

to send a message, especially an electronic message.

verb (used with object)

to send (a person) a message.

to send as a message.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for message

get the message, Informal. to understand or comprehend, especially to infer the correct meaning from circumstances, hints, etc.: If we don't invite him to the party, maybe he'll get the message.

Origin of message

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French < Vulgar Latin *missāticum, equivalent to Latin miss(us) sent (past participle of mittere to send) + -āticum -age

OTHER WORDS FROM message

in·ter·mes·sage, noun, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH message

massage message

Words nearby message

mess jacket, mess kit, mess up, mess with, mess-up, message, message board, message center, message stick, message switching, message unit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for message

When it comes to educating our children, Congress should heed that message, not ignore it.
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future|Jonah Edelman|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Leelah Alcorn's message was sent, and heard, and things started changing.
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide Journalism|Arthur Chu|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Does the sending of the message “justify” the tragedy that caused it?
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide Journalism|Arthur Chu|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the act of killing herself done, the message was sent, and heard, and things started changing.
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide Journalism|Arthur Chu|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The daily message of that outsized shield to Ramos was that just wearing the NYPD inform can make you a target.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You know, papa, he is dying, and this letter is a message of death.
Jane Sinclair; Or, The Fawn Of Springvale|William Carleton
"In Caesar's name," repeated the official, who had been selected for the duty of reading the Imperial message.
Serapis, Complete|Georg Ebers
The ambassadors went back to King Magnus, and told him the answer to their message.
Heimskringla|Snorri Sturlason
He had heard the message sent to Mr. Arnold, however, and so kept hoping for the dinner-hour.
David Elginbrod|George MacDonald
The message was returned, that the horses were to be ready by six o'clock next morning.
The Life and Adventures of Bruce, the African Traveller|Francis Head

British Dictionary definitions for message

message

/ (ˈmɛsɪdʒ) /

noun

a communication, usually brief, from one person or group to another

an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art

a formal communiqué

an inspired communication of a prophet or religious leader

a mission; errand

(plural) Scot shoppinggoing for the messages

get the message informal to understand what is meant

verb

(tr) to send as a message, esp to signal (a plan, etc)

Word Origin for message

C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unattested) something sent, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere to send

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

Idioms and Phrases with message

message

see get the message.

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