address

verb ad·dress \ ə-ˈdres , a- also ˈa-ˌdres \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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

See address defined for English-language learners

See address defined for kids

Examples of address in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of address from the Web

In a relaxed environment, the church will discuss what Catholics believe, with an opportunity to address issues with which participants may have problems.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Valley Edition," 17 Apr. 2018
Van Bokkelen took Gambino’s motion under advisement and said a hearing will be set to address the issue.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Jury acquits one, convicts other defendant in Calumet Township trustee's office public corruption trial," 17 Apr. 2018
In an attempt to address heavy criticism over the gender imbalance, the organizers revised the speaker list.

— robert hackett, Fortune, "Term Sheet -- Tuesday April 17," 17 Apr. 2018
In that series, the Warriors never found the right counter, only addressing the issue with the addition of Kevin Durant a few weeks later.

— chris fedor, cleveland.com, "Jeff Green won't adjust to Pacers' defense, will continue to take shots when left open," 16 Apr. 2018
In 2016, 19 states took some sort of action to address the issue.

— torey van oot, Glamour, "Mariska Hargitay’s New Documentary Is an Unflinching Look at America's Untested Rape Kits," 16 Apr. 2018
And a plurality — 33 percent — say neither party will do a good job to address the issue.

— NBC News, "Republicans regain advantage on dealing with the economy," 16 Apr. 2018
Amazon was forced to issue a security update to address the issue.

— john burnett, WSJ, "Give Jeff Bezos the Mark Zuckerberg Treatment," 15 Apr. 2018
What can be done in the offseason to address the issues with finishing the season?

— james crepea, AL.com, "5 questions facing Auburn's defense after spring practice," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'address.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of address

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 ¹dress

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

address Synonyms

Phrases

get cracking, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand (or turn a hand);

address

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 e-mail

an e-mail 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

See address defined for English-language learners

Examples of address in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of address from the Web

The movie ends, as did the crisis, with Kennedy alone at a desk, appealing to the voters of Massachusetts in a televised address.

— jenna russell, BostonGlobe.com, "How much of ‘Chappaquiddick’ is actually true?," 4 Apr. 2018
The broadcast then cut to a clip of President Lyndon B. Johnson saying in a nationwide television address that America is saddened and shocked.

— CBS News, "MLK assassination: How Walter Cronkite covered the April 4, 1968 tragedy," 4 Apr. 2018
Washington, whose address was listed in booking records as in San Bernardino, Calif., signed extradition papers March 19 in Riverside, Calif., just outside of Los Angeles, to be taken to New Orleans to face the charges.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "Central City gang dispute motivated quadruple shooting that killed 2 in June: NOPD," 3 Apr. 2018
Though Dibadj did not address other potential divestitures by health players, others in the sector are reviewing non-core assets.

— alexander coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "P&G in talks with Pfizer to acquire drugmaker's consumer health unit, CNBC says," 3 Apr. 2018
Stickers must be displayed on cars registered to Park Ridge addresses by June 16, the city said.

— jennifer johnson, chicagotribune.com, "What's happening in Park Ridge: Park District seeks help in winning $20,000 grant," 3 Apr. 2018
Seminole hosted a safety forum for parents Thursday evening, using the questions from the online survey to guide discussions, and has a new email address (school_safety@scps.k12.fl.us) for parents to make suggestions or to ask safety questions.

— leslie postal, OrlandoSentinel.com, "School-safety measures will take time, cost a lot, districts say," 2 Apr. 2018
According to a later Associated Press analysis of a report by the information security firm SecureWorks, at least 573 of the more than 4,700 different email addresses targeted were American.

— andrew prokop, Vox, "The hacked emails at the center of Mueller’s Russia investigation, explained," 2 Apr. 2018
After the daily organ recital, addresses were delivered by a number of men who have been prominent in Exposition and park affairs.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "CITIZENS TAKE OVER PARK," 2 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of address

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1539

See Words from the same year

address Synonyms

Synonyms

actions, bearing, behavior, comportment, conduct, demeanor, deportment;

p's and q's;

amenity, civility, courtesy, decorum, politeness;

air, attitude, carriage, poise, pose, posture, presence;

aspect, look, mien;

formality, protocol, rules;

custom, habit, habitude, pattern, practice (also practise), trick, wont;

convention, fashion, form, mode, style;

affectation, attribute, characteristic, mark, trait;

distinctiveness, oddity, peculiarity, singularity, strangeness, uniqueness, weirdness;

Synonym Discussion of 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

ADDRESS Defined for English Language Learners

address

verb

: to write on an envelope, package, letter, etc., the name and address of the person or business it is being sent to
: to speak to (a person or group)
: to use a specified name or title when speaking or writing to (someone)

address

noun

: the words and numbers that are used to describe the location of a building and that are written on letters, envelopes, and packages so that they can be mailed to that location
: the letters, numbers, and symbols that are used to direct an e-mail message or to show the location of a site on the Internet
: a formal speech

ADDRESS Defined for Kids

address

verb ad·dress \ ə-ˈdres \

addressed; addressing

1 : to put directions for delivery on

address a letter

2 : to speak or write to

Bleakly, Roy looked up to address the grownups.
—Carl Hiaasen, Hoot

3 : to use a specified name or title when speaking or writing to (someone)

The children address me as “sir.”

4 : to deal with : give attention to

address a problem

address

noun ad·dress \ ə-ˈdres , ˈa-ˌdres \

1 : the place where a person can usually be reached

a business address

2 : the directions for delivery placed on mail

3 : the symbols (as numerals or letters) that identify the location where particular information (as a home page) is stored on a computer especially on the Internet

4 : a formal speech