address

1 of 2

verb

ad·​dress ə-ˈdres 

a-,

 also  ˈa-ˌdres

addressed; addressing; addresses

transitive verb

1

a

: to mark directions for delivery on

address a letter

b

: to consign to the care of another (such as an agent or factor)

2

a

: to direct the efforts or attention of (oneself)

will address himself to the problem

b

: to deal with : treat

… intrigued by the chance to address important issues …

—I. L. Horowitz

3

a

: to communicate directly

addresses his thanks to his host

b

: to speak or write directly to

especially : to deliver a formal speech to

The president will address the nation by television.

4

: to greet by a prescribed form

how to address an archbishop

5

golf : to adjust the club and one's stance preparatory to hitting (the ball)

6

: to identify (something, such as a computer peripheral or memory location) by an address or a name for information transfer

7

archaic

a

: direct, aim

b

: to direct to go : send

8

archaic : to make ready

especially : dress

intransitive verb

obsolete : to direct one's speech or attentions

addresser noun

address

2 of 2

noun

ad·​dress ə-ˈdres 

 for senses 1, 2, & 3 also  ˈa-ˌdres

1

a

: a place where a person or organization may be communicated with

asked for her name, address, and phone number

b

: directions for delivery on the outside of an object (such as a letter or package)

an envelope with an illegible address

c

: the designation of place of delivery placed between the heading and salutation on a business letter

d

: the designation of an account from which one can send or receive email

an email address

2

a

: a location (as in the memory of a computer) where particular information is stored

b

: a series of usually alphanumeric characters that specifies the storage location (as on a network or in a computer's memory) of particular information

an Internet address

A unique number called an IP address identifies every computer that's connected to the Internet. An IP address looks something like this: 24.62.89.4. Each of the four parts of an IP address can have from one to three digits.

—Kim Komando

3

: a formal communication

especially : a prepared speech delivered to a special audience or on a special occasion

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

4

: dutiful and courteous attention especially in courtship

—usually used in plural

She spurned his addresses.

"Here is a young man wishing to pay his addresses to you, with everything to recommend him."

—Jane Austen

5

a

: readiness and capability for dealing (as with a person or problem) skillfully and smoothly : adroitness

b

obsolete : a making ready

also : a state of preparedness

6

a

: manner of bearing oneself

a man of rude address

b

: manner of speaking or singing : delivery

was pleased with the tenor's ease of address

7

golf : the stance of the player and the position of the club preparatory to hitting the ball

Synonyms

Verb

• contend (with)
• cope (with)
• field
• grapple (with)
• hack
• handle
• manage
• maneuver
• manipulate
• negotiate
• play
• swing
• take
• treat

Noun

• declamation
• harangue
• oration
• peroration
• speech
• talk

Choose the Right Synonym for address

tact, address, poise, savoir faire mean skill and grace in dealing with others.

tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate.

questions showing a lack of tact

address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends.

brought it off with remarkable address

poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations.

answered the accusations with unruffled poise

savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient.

the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler

Example Sentences

Verb

I've addressed the letter, but it still needs a stamp.

The package is sealed; it just needs to be addressed.

We spent the afternoon addressing invitations to all our friends.

The letter was returned because it had been addressed incorrectly.

She ignored most of the people at the table, addressing only the man who was sitting next to her.

One of the characters addresses the audience directly throughout the play.

Most of the speaker's remarks were addressed to those with experience in the industry.

Before the awards were given, the mayor addressed the crowd.

Noun

Write your name, address, and phone number in the spaces provided.

We listened to the President's inaugural address on the radio.

She was asked to give a formal address at the ceremony.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The overlapping legal claims come after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s call for a special legislative session in August to address gun control, raising the stakes of how those writings might be interpreted amid America’s unending gun violence epidemic. —Alta Spells, CNN, 25 May 2023

On the album, Kesha vaguely addresses her ongoing legal situation with Dr. Luke. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2023

To address concerns about family travel, United Airlines took the lead by ensuring children 14 and under can sit with their parents without additional fees. —Analisa Novak, CBS News, 24 May 2023

Start up the family meetings, keep them positive and — without directly calling out one person — address the disagreements in the home and ask the children to find some solutions. —Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 24 May 2023

On Tuesday night’s episode of Jeopardy! Masters, the 24-year-old game show contestant addressed their father’s sudden death after suffering from a brain aneurysm earlier this month. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 24 May 2023

That gives the White House and Congress just eight days to come to a deal and pass legislation raising the debt ceiling and addressing government spending. —Cami Mondeaux, Washington Examiner, 24 May 2023

The Fed has been pushing the key lever to address inflation by raising interest rates, according to economists. —Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 24 May 2023

The filmmaker and Margot Robbie, who stars in the upcoming blockbuster based on Mattel's iconic line of dolls, recently addressed why the film leaned into an important part of the toys' anatomies: breasts with no nipples and Kens with smooth bulges. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 24 May 2023

Noun

Putin’s remarks came during an address Sunday honoring border guards. Battleground updates Recent dry weather after an unusually rainy start to the spring is raising expectations that Ukraine’s counteroffensive is or soon will be underway. —Nick Parker, Washington Post, 28 May 2023

Even the Walt Disney World Resort and its classic theme parks have addresses in Lake Buena Vista, not Orlando proper. —Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2023

Between an ecstatic ovation for her brief Saturday-morning address and the ballroom-size dinner held in her honor that evening, the party’s first in-person gathering since 2019 was an unabashed love letter to one of the state’s most prolific politicians. —Melanie Mason, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2023

While there are several ways the federal government can prohibit communications technology like TikTok—including app store regulation, financial sanctions, or the DNS filtering and IP address blocking used by countries like China—none of these methods are foolproof. —Sofia Andrade, Popular Mechanics, 27 May 2023

Include the name of the group, date and time of event, address, cost and contact information for readers within the email text. —Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2023

Paxton, who spoke at the rally in Washington that preceded the riot, called his supporters to the Texas Capitol on a day when the governor is supposed to deliver a Memorial Day address to lawmakers there. —Compiled By Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 27 May 2023

Ivey proposed a rebate of $400 for individuals and $800 for couples during her State of the State address in March. —Mike Cason | [e-mail], al, 26 May 2023

In her address, Scurry urged students to continue being passionate, have aspirations, to help and support others, and let others support them, as well. —Ashley Soebroto, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English adressen "to guide, direct, set in order, mark with a destination," borrowed from Anglo-French adrescer, adresser "to make straight, direct, guide," from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + drescer, dresser "to direct, put right" — more at dress entry 1

Noun

in part derivative of address entry 1, in part borrowed from Middle French adresce, adresse, noun derivative of adrescer, adresser

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3a

Noun

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing address

• forwarding address
• address book
• IP address
• form/term of address
• public address system
• mailing address
• postal address
• public address announcer
• return address
• keynote address
• State of the Union address
• inside address

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• forwarding address
• address book
• IP address
• form/term of address
• public address system
• mailing address
• postal address
• public address announcer
• return address
• keynote address
• State of the Union address
• inside address

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Kids Definition

address

1 of 2 verb

ad·​dress ə-ˈdres 

a-

1

a

: to direct the attention of oneself

addressed themselves to the problem

b

: to deal with

prepares to address the problem

2

a

: to communicate directly

address a petition to the governor

b

: to deliver a formal speech to

address the convention

3

: to mark directions for delivery on

address a letter

4

: to greet by a prescribed form

5

: to identify (as a computer peripheral or a piece of information) by an address or name for information transfer

addresser noun

address

2 of 2 noun

ad·​dress ə-ˈdres 

ˈad-ˌres

1

: manner of speaking : delivery

2

: a rehearsed speech

3

a

: a place where a person or organization can usually be reached

b

: the directions for delivery on mail

4

a

: a location (as in the memory of a computer) where particular information is stored

b

: a series of symbols (as numerals or letters) that identifies the location of information in a computer's memory or on the Internet or that specifies the source or destination of an e-mail message