address

American  

[uh-dres, ad-res, uh-dres] / əˈdrɛs, ˈæd rɛs, əˈdrɛs /

noun

• addresses
  plural

1. a speech or written statement, usually formal, directed to a particular group of persons.

   the president's address on the state of the economy.

   Synonyms:

   lecture, discourse

2. a direction as to the intended recipient, written on or attached to a piece of mail.

3. the place or the name of the place where a person, organization, or the like is located or may be reached.

   What is your address when you're in Des Moines?

4. manner of speaking to persons; personal bearing in conversation.

5. skillful and expeditious management; ready skill; dispatch.

   to handle a matter with address.

   Synonyms:

   tact, ingenuity, cleverness, adroitness

6. Computers.

   1. a label, as an integer, symbol, or other set of characters, designating a location, register, etc., where information is stored in computer memory.

   2. a set of characters designating an email account.

      Her email address ends in “.net,” not “.com.”

   3. a set of characters designating the location of a website or a particular computer or other device on a network.

      He visits that website so often that its complete address comes up whenever he types its first letter into the address bar.

7. Government. a request to the executive by the legislature to remove a judge for unfitness.

8. Usually addresses. attentions paid by a suitor or lover; courtship.

9. Usually Address. the reply to the king's speech in the English Parliament.

10. Obsolete. preparation.

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verb (used with object)

• addresses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• addressed,
  past participle,  past
• addrest,
  past participle,  past (Archaic)
• addressing
  present participle

1. to direct a speech or written statement to.

   to address an assembly.

2. to use a specified form or title in speaking or writing to.

   Address the president as “Mr. President.”

3. to direct to the attention.

   He addressed his remarks to the lawyers in the audience.

4. to apply in speech (used reflexively, usually followed byto ).

   He addressed himself to the leader.

5. to deal with or discuss.

   to address the issues.

6. to put the directions for delivery on.

   to address a letter.

7. Commerce. to consign or entrust to the care of another, as agent or factor.

8. to direct the energy or efforts of (usually followed byto ).

   He addressed himself to the task.

9. Computers. to direct (data) to a specified memory location in a computer.

10. Golf. to take a stance and place the head of the club behind (the ball) preparatory to hitting it.

11. Obsolete. to woo; court.

12. Archaic. to give direction to; aim.

13. Obsolete. to prepare.

verb (used without object)

Obsolete.

• addresses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• addressed,
  past participle,  past
• addrest,
  past participle,  past (Archaic)
• addressing
  present participle

1. to make an appeal.

2. to make preparations.

address British  

/ əˈdrɛs /

noun

1. the conventional form by which the location of a building is described

2. the written form of this, as on a letter or parcel, preceded by the name of the person or organization for whom it is intended

3. the place at which someone lives

4. a speech or written communication, esp one of a formal nature

5. skilfulness or tact

6. archaic manner or style of speaking or conversation

7. computing a number giving the location of a piece of stored information See also direct access

8. government a statement of the opinions or wishes of either or both Houses of Parliament that is sent to the sovereign

9. the alignment or position of a part, component, etc, that permits correct assembly or fitting

10. (usually plural) expressions of affection made by a man in courting a woman

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verb

1. to mark (a letter, parcel, etc) with an address

2. to speak to, refer to in speaking, or deliver a speech to

3. (used reflexively; foll by to)

   1. to speak or write to

      he addressed himself to the chairman

   2. to apply oneself to

      he addressed himself to the task

4. to direct (a message, warning, etc) to the attention of

5. to consign or entrust (a ship or a ship's cargo) to a factor, merchant, etc

6. to adopt a position facing (the ball in golf, a partner in a dance, the target in archery, etc)

7. to treat of; deal with

   chapter 10 addresses the problem of transitivity

8. an archaic word for woo

Synonym Usage

See speech.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• addresser
  noun
• addressor
  noun
• preaddress
  noun
• readdress
  verb (used with object)
• half-addressed
  adjective
• unaddressed
  adjective
• well-addressed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• addresses
  plural

Participles

• addressing
  present
• addressed
  past
• addrest
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• address
  simple
• addresses
  simple
• have addressed
  perfect
• have addrest
  perfect
• has addressed
  perfect
• has addrest
  perfect
• am addressing
  progressive
• are addressing
  progressive
• is addressing
  progressive
• have been addressing
  perfect progressive
• has been addressing
  perfect progressive

Past

• addressed
  simple
• addrest
  simple
• had addressed
  perfect
• had addrest
  perfect
• was addressing
  progressive
• were addressing
  progressive
• had been addressing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will address
  simple
• will have addressed
  perfect
• will have addrest
  perfect
• will be addressing
  progressive
• will have been addressing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of address

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English adressen “to adorn,” from Middle French adresser; see a- ⁵, dress

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Explanation

When you are a student and you want to address your teacher, it's generally safer to call her Ms. and not address her by her first name, Esmeralda. Address is a word that's long been associated with correspondence — the street number, city, state, and postal code that must be on the front of any envelope if it's going to arrive at its destination. In the digital age, an address has also come to mean the location where you might e-mail your friend pictures of your dog dressed up in a birthday hat. If you wanted to tell that friend about your dog's birthday party in person, you might address her directly. Address to describe a way of speaking is usually reserved for more formal occasions, such as when the President addresses the nation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

address addresses addressed addrest addressing

When asked about the King's reaction to the prime minister's comments, the spokesperson said it would "not be appropriate" for the King to address matters of policy relating to "the UK Government's position".

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

"It would not be appropriate for him to address matters of particular policy relating to the UK government's position," the spokesperson said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

“We have laid a very strong foundation in term one to address some longstanding city problems,” she said in an interview.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

They also don’t address potential influences that are gained through business relationships, he added.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026

“Bill, bill, ad . . . ,” Chip flipped through the stack, sounding more relieved with each letter that wasn’t a plain envelope addressed to him, without a return address.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The research addresses one of the most fundamental mysteries in physics: why does the universe contain matter instead of nothing at all?

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

King Charles III will confront "shameful aspects" of UK history with "unflinching honesty" when he addresses Commonwealth leaders next week, Buckingham Palace said Saturday, amid renewed scrutiny of Britain's role in historical transatlantic slavery.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

Warren added in her statement that Congress needs to pass legislation supported by both parties that addresses the movement of advanced U.S.-made technology into China.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026

In the following weeks, he was "sofa-surfing" between various addresses - including the home Debotte shared with her father in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Suddenly the image switches to a live press conference, where the governor addresses a gathering of antsy reporters.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Referring to NewsGuard's study, Google said "this issue was addressed as our systems quickly updated to surface the latest reporting on this topic."

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

In his conversation with “Peacemaker” stars Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee for “The Suicide Squad: Is It Canon?” podcast, Gunn also addressed the character’s status in the DCU.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

When Ynyshir was reinspected, Ceredigion council said the "business had addressed all matters identified during the original inspection".

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

How such a law might have gotten passed is not addressed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

With reluctance, Nathan addressed what would most certainly be in his nightmares that night: “What’s up...Cheii Chizh?”

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

The memory of that great scene still lingers about the place, and every guide will show you the exact place where the Apostle stood, and in what direction he addrest his audience.

From Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 8 Italy and Greece, Part Two by Francis W. (Francis Whiting) Halsey

Anything like a telegraphic dispatch or express box or the like should be addrest 456 Sixth street, 3rd story, back room.

From The Wound Dresser A Series of Letters Written from the Hospitals in Washington during the War of the Rebellion by Walt Whitman

And proud to see himself with Triumph blest, Thus to great Absolom himself addrest.

From Anti-Achitophel (1682) Three Verse Replies to Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden by Harold Whitmore Jones

So I saw that when they awoke, they addrest themselves to go up to the city.

From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume III (of X) - Great Britain and Ireland I by Francis W. (Francis Whiting) Halsey

This essay addrest to Gallio, Seneca is thought to have intended "as a vindication of himself against those who calumniated him on account of his riches and manner of living."

From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume II (of X) - Rome by Francis W. (Francis Whiting) Halsey

The Sunday Times also carries a front page write saying the King "will follow Burnham by addressing slavery 'with sincere sorrow'".

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

But she believes putting everything together is part of addressing “common-sense, obvious stuff” that will help the city function better.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Pearson has called for addressing the root causes of crime by improving schools and economic opportunities instead of a singular focus on incarceration.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026

“One of the biggest pushes for us in thinking about getting back into oncology was addressing this unmet need.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

“We had no choice but to trust in providence,” Mater Lumley continued gently, addressing the children.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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