ad·dress | \ ə-ˈdres 
, a- also ˈa-ˌdres \
, a- also ˈa-ˌdres \addressed; addressing; addresses
Definition of address
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : to mark directions for delivery on
address a letter
b : to consign to the care of another (such as an agent or factor)
2a : 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
3a : 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
obsolete : to direct one's speech or attentions
address
nounad·dress | \ ə-ˈdres , for senses 1, 2, & 3 also ˈa-ˌdres \
, for senses 1, 2, & 3 also ˈa-ˌdres \Definition of address (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : 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
2a : 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 pluralShe spurned his addresses."Here is a young man wishing to pay his addresses to you, with everything to recommend him."— Jane Austen
5a : 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
6a : 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
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Synonyms for address
Synonyms: Verb
- contend (with),
- cope (with),
- field,
- grapple (with),
- hack,
- handle,
- manage,
- maneuver,
- manipulate,
- negotiate,
- play,
- swing,
- take,
- treat
Synonyms: Noun
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Examples of address in a Sentence
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 Days before the start of the 32nd Alaska State Legislature, the Alaska House and the Alaska Senate are leaderless, leaving the Legislature unable to address pressing state issues.
—
James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, "Facing huge problems, the Alaska Legislature still hasn’t decided who’s in charge," 17 Jan. 2021 First, the affordability piece that Eyre has been trying to address where families can’t cover the cost to connect.
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Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, "This Utah school district has built its own internet service so students can log on from home," 17 Jan. 2021 Voluntary participation is preferred but not adequate to address the overriding interest in achieving herd immunity though the vaccination program.
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Star Tribune, "Readers Write: Getting a COVID vaccines, historic preservation," 17 Jan. 2021 Hiroshi Motomura, an immigration law professor at UCLA, said any long-term solution to immigration reform has to address why people migrate in the first place.
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oregonlive, "Biden plans legislation to offer path to citizenship for 11 million immigrants without legal status," 16 Jan. 2021 To try to address this, experts have increased the database from 32,000 characters to 70,000 characters, according to the government.
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Jessie Yeung, CNN, "Why 1.2 billion people share the same 100 surnames in China," 16 Jan. 2021 Both conviction integrity and sentencing review units are seen as ways to address racial inequity and mass incarceration, the prosecutors said.
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Washington Post, "Va. attorney general launches Conviction Integrity Unit to identify wrongful convictions," 16 Jan. 2021 The market ahead offers multiple ways to address this deficiency, while potentially pairing the younger Ionescu with a veteran big with championship experience.
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New York Times, "The Liberty Enter Free Agency ‘Absolutely’ Ready for Big Changes," 15 Jan. 2021 Ultimately, societies must address the roots underlying extremism, says Ms. Dittmer of Reporters Without Borders.
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Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, "Europe criticizes Trump Twitter ban – but not for reason you'd expect," 15 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun President Ronald Reagan quoted King during a weekly radio address in January 1986, saying African Americans had experienced economic growth under his administration and objecting to minority hiring goals.
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Javonte Anderson, USA TODAY, "Martin Luther King Jr.'s words of unity and truth transcend how they are often twisted," 18 Jan. 2021 After four years, Melania Trump has given her last address as First Lady of the United States.
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Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, "Melania Trump Just Gave Her Farewell Address Amid Backlash For Snubbing Dr. Jill Biden," 18 Jan. 2021 Biden's Inauguration Day address will seek to bridge the nation's deepening political divide by summoning support from people who didn't vote for him as well as those who did, according to advisers.
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Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, "Biden plans 1st-day changes; rejoining climate deal, tossing some migrant rules on list," 18 Jan. 2021 Then state epidemiologists saw that one of the three people who had the new more infectious variant shared a street address in Minnesota with someone else who recently tested positive for regular COVID at a different lab.
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Joe Carlson, Star Tribune, "COVID test used in Minnesota may offer clues about new strain," 17 Jan. 2021 There were valid explanations, including the vagaries of international mail, address changes, and so on.
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Daniel Loedel, The Atlantic, "My Sister Was Disappeared 43 Years Ago," 17 Jan. 2021 For Kall, Biden's address will be complemented by his appearance alongside former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton for his swearing-in and a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
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Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, "Biden's unity talk haunting him amid Trump impeachment," 15 Jan. 2021 All were made in 2020, but some address concerns that far predate the pandemic.
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Washington Post, "In the galleries: Middle East artists examine sheltering in place amid pandemic," 15 Jan. 2021 According to court documents, the man, Kevin Seefried of Delaware, went to Washington on Jan. 6 with his son, Hunter, to hear President Trump address a crowd outside the White House.
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New York Times, "Inaugural Security Is Fortified in D.C. as Military and Police Links Are Eyed in Riot," 14 Jan. 2021
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for address
address
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of address
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of address (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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
See the full definition for address in the English Language Learners Dictionary
address
verbad·dress | \ ə-ˈdres \
\addressed; addressing
Kids Definition of address
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
nounad·dress | \ ə-ˈdres , ˈa-ˌdres \
, ˈa-ˌdres \Kids Definition of address (Entry 2 of 2)
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
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Time Traveler for address
The first known use of address was in the 14th century
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