address

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

Definition of address

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.

Origin and Etymology of address

Middle English adressen, from Anglo-French adrescer, from a- (from Latin ad-) + drescer to direct, put right — more at dress

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

address Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

engineer, finesse, jockey; bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull; command, direct, guide, steer; control, micromanage, regulate, run; react (to), respond (to)

Near Antonyms

botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

address

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noun ad·dress \ ə-ˈdres , for senses 1, 2, & 3 also ˈa-ˌdres \

Definition of address

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 a computer 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

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

No addresses were provided for the gym facilities or any telephone number for the camp or the league.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Former EC basketball star returned to Lake jail after two years," 29 Aug. 2017
To participate, teens should send an email to Alison Colman, teen services librarian, at acolman@naperville-lib.org with the participant's first and last name and email address by 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 29 Aug. 2017
As outright condemnations of the president increase in severity and number, there is still a confounding urge to congratulate Trump for doing anything so ordinary as reciting a presidential address without setting the country on fire.

— lauren duca, Teen Vogue, "Read This From a Teleprompter: Donald Trump Is Unfit to Serve," 24 Aug. 2017
Only then did the site provide an address connected to the account.

— mark davis and diane stafford the kansas city star, kansascity, "KCP&L warned of scam calls while disclosing customers’ phone numbers online," 24 Aug. 2017
These include setting up fake mailing addresses in low-cost member-states and bouncing workers between several countries to avoid the increased costs that permanent employment would bring.

— liz alderman, New York Times, "France’s Macron Looks to Confront Eastern Europe Over Low-Cost Workers," 23 Aug. 2017
The band plays Mobile's Saenger Theatre, address 6 S. Joachim St., 8 p.m. Sept. 27 and tickets are currently available via ticketmaster.com.

— matt wake, AL.com, "How Jason Isbell's 400 Unit became the E Street Band of their era," 23 Aug. 2017
But Carson’s address to the lawyers offered little further clarity on his agenda.

— alec macgillis, Daily Intelligencer, "Is Anybody Home at HUD?," 22 Aug. 2017
Lobbyist Dante Starks, Budget Director Keith Carswell and Bishop John Taylor, husband of Mayor Myra Taylor, speak after the Opa-locka state of the city address on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016.

— jay weaver, miamiherald, "Disgusted reformers say Opa-locka’s too crooked to save. They want it abolished.," 21 Aug. 2017

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

see ¹address

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1539

See Words from the same year

address Synonyms

Synonyms

speech, declamation, harangue, oration, peroration, talk

Related Words

diatribe, rant, tirade; eulogy, panegyric, tribute; keynote address (or keynote speech), lecture, salutatory; homily, sermon; monologue (also monolog), soliloquy; pitch, presentation, spiel

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

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verb

Definition of address for English Language Learners

: 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

play

noun

Definition of address for English Language Learners

: 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

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verb ad·dress \ ə-ˈdres \

Definition of address for Students

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

play

noun ad·dress \ ə-ˈdres , ˈa-ˌdres \

Definition of address for Students

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

The president will give an address at the ceremony.

5 :the name of a computer account from which e-mail can be sent or received

Learn More about address

See words that rhyme with address Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for address Spanish Central: Translation of address Nglish: Translation of address for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of address for Arabic speakers

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address

Definition of address

addresser

From the M-W Editors

Examples of address in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of address

address Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

address

Definition of address

Examples of address in a Sentence

Recent Examples of address from the Web

Origin and Etymology of address

address Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of address

Phrases Related to ADDRESS

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ADDRESS Defined for English Language Learners

address

Definition of address for English Language Learners

address

Definition of address for English Language Learners

ADDRESS Defined for Kids

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Definition of address for Students

address

Definition of address for Students

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