address

1 of 2

verb

ad·​dress ə-ˈdres 

a-,

 also  ˈa-ˌdres

addressed; addressing; addresses

transitive verb

1

a

: to deal with or give attention to

address a problem

address the community's needs

She held a meeting to address our concerns.

Scientists … have been working for years to address the decline of coral reef populations.

—David Fischer

b

: to direct the efforts or attention of (oneself)

will address himself to the problem

2

a

: to mark directions for delivery on

address a letter

… knowing how to address an envelope properly is a skill everyone should have …

—Majesty Henry

b

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

3

a

: to communicate directly

addressed her thanks to their host

b

: to speak or write directly to

especially : to deliver a formal speech to

The president will address the nation from the Oval Office.

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)

… he … returned to his ball and addressed it to play his third shot.

—Alan Bastable

6

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

… allows the system to address the memory board as if it were a disk …

—Business Wire

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 is located or may be communicated with

asked for her name, home 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

The computer can access any address in memory at any time (hence the name "random access memory").

—Marshall Brain

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

a web 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

chiefly British, dated : 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

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

To bring the thing off as well as Mile has done requires address …

—Herman Wouk

b

archaic : a making ready

also : a state of preparedness

6

a

dated : manner of conducting oneself

a man of rude address

… the education and social address of the propertied class.

—George Bernard Shaw

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 of address

Verb

• handle
• manage
• manipulate
• treat
• take
• negotiate

Noun

• speech

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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Boston Red Sox will need to address their starting rotation this offseason, especially after former All-Star hurler Lucas Giolito opted out of his contract. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Mamdani has many bold ideas to address this—some of which have been ridiculed—and not all will be achieved. —Sally Susman, Time, 5 Nov. 2025

Noun

The address is about 3 miles west-southwest of the Interstate 30 interchange with Interstate 630. —Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025

That vector served as an address for calling up nearby words and concepts. —James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for address

• abbess
• abscess
• access
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess
• express

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 email message