express

adjective

ex·press | \ ik-ˈspres

Definition of express

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : directly, firmly, and explicitly stated my express orders

b : exact, precise

2a : designed for or adapted to its purpose

b : of a particular sort : specific for that express purpose

3a : traveling at high speed specifically : traveling with few or no stops along the way express train

b : designed or intended to be used for fast movement or travel an express highway with few local exits the express lane at the supermarket

c(1) : delivered faster than usual an express shipment

(2) British : designated to be delivered without delay by special messenger

express

adverb

Definition of express (Entry 2 of 4)

1 obsolete : expressly

2 : by express delivered express

express

noun

Definition of express (Entry 3 of 4)

1a British : a messenger sent on a special errand

b British : a dispatch conveyed by a special messenger

c(1) : a system for the prompt and safe transportation of parcels, money, or goods at rates higher than standard freight charges

(2) : a company operating such a merchandise freight service

d British : special delivery

2 : an express vehicle

express

verb

expressed; expressing; expresses

Definition of express (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : delineate, depict

b : to represent in words : state

c : to give or convey a true impression of : show, reflect

d : to make known the opinions or feelings of (oneself)

e : to give expression to the artistic or creative impulses or abilities of (oneself)

f : to represent by a sign or symbol : symbolize

2a : to force out (something, such as the juice of a fruit) by pressure

b : to subject to pressure so as to extract something

3 : to send by express

4 : to cause (a gene) to manifest its effects in the phenotype also : to manifest or produce (a character, molecule, or effect) by a genetic process

Other Words from express Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about express

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Synonyms & Antonyms for express

Synonyms: Adjective

concrete, distinct, especial, peculiar, precise, set, special, specific

Synonyms: Noun

courier, go-between, messenger, page, runner

Synonyms: Verb

air, expound, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice

Antonyms: Adjective

nonspecific

Antonyms: Verb

stifle, suppress

Choose the Right Synonym for express

Adjective

explicit, definite, express, specific mean perfectly clear in meaning. explicit implies such verbal plainness and distinctness that there is no need for inference and no room for difficulty in understanding. explicit instructions definite stresses precise, clear statement or arrangement that leaves no doubt or indecision. the law is definite in such cases express implies both explicitness and direct and positive utterance. her express wishes specific applies to what is precisely and fully treated in detail or particular. two specific criticisms

Verb

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels. express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces. expressed her feelings in music vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words. a tirade venting his frustration utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech. utter a groan voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words. an editorial voicing their concerns broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion. broached the subject of a divorce air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention. publicly airing their differences

Examples of express in a Sentence

Adjective

the express lane at the grocery store a trip to the supermarket with the express purpose of buying milk

Adverb

They sent the package express.

Noun

He sent the package to us by express. He takes the express to work.

Verb

He expressed an interest in meeting her. She expressed surprise at his rude behavior. The results can be expressed as a percentage. The length, expressed in centimeters, is 29. They expressed the package to us.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

That might seem a small deal for a $450 billion company, but the purchase means Alibaba will soon own a substantial stake in four of the six largest express delivery companies in China. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, "Alibaba’s Latest Deal Should Deliver the Goods," 11 Mar. 2019 Last week, the city announced that The Boring Co., Musk’s engineering firm, will build the express service, using its own money. — Mary Wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, "Elon Musk plans to develop an express train to O'Hare. But why can't the Blue Line be improved?," 18 June 2018 The short-term restriction is part of an experiment to see whether a simple change can speed up express bus service, improve reliability and draw more riders. — Martine Powers, Washington Post, "Metro wants bus trips to be faster, and getting rid of cash may be the answer," 26 May 2018 Moda Operandi Enjoy free express shipping on orders over $500 with code HOLIDAYNOW or $25 same-day shipping. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, "Procrastinators, Rejoice! These Last-Minute Gifts Are Guaranteed to Arrive in Time," 18 Dec. 2018 The City of Chicago has also selected The Boring Company to build an express line from O'Hare International Airport to the downtown area. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Elon Musk tweets a date for the opening of his first Los Angeles tunnel," 22 Oct. 2018 For instance, Sound Transit’s future I-405 bus station at Northeast 85th Street in Kirkland will also give drivers another place to reach the express toll lanes, by sharing a roundabout interchange with buses. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Can $3 billion in toll lanes, interchanges and bus rapid transit fix I-405 gridlock?," 9 Sep. 2018 Some express color preferences and other particulars. — Isaiah Freeman-schub, WSJ, "Each of These Tapestries Takes At Least 70 Hours to Make," 26 Oct. 2018 The design adds one express toll lane and converts the free carpool lane to express tolls, alongside the existing two or three general lanes each way between Renton and Bellevue. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Can $3 billion in toll lanes, interchanges and bus rapid transit fix I-405 gridlock?," 9 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

All express pleasant shock at their changed Sundays. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: Would you miss the NFL and the Cincinnati Bengals if they were gone?," 5 Feb. 2018 EXPRESS-BUS SOLUTION Why the Metro Gold Line is not the solution to traffic congestion in St. Paul: Congestion is primarily during rush hour and thus the solution must address commuters during typical business hours. — Letter Writers, Twin Cities, "Letter: Gold Line won’t solve congestion in St. Paul," 15 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Buses need the express toll lanes The highway and transit megaprojects are designed to work together. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Can $3 billion in toll lanes, interchanges and bus rapid transit fix I-405 gridlock?," 9 Sep. 2018 But both designs are nonstarters for Deerfield Mayor Bill Ganz, because both have express lanes flying over the entrance to the Waterways community and then again over the train tracks near Military Trail. — Anne Geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Public warms to plan linking I-95, Sawgrass Expressway," 13 June 2018 And Indian growth has been left in the dust by the Chinese express (see chart). — The Economist, "India’s economy is back on track. Can it pick up speed?," 28 Mar. 2018 February 14, 2018: United Flight 1175 What should have been an express ticket to paradise ended in near calamity when an engine casing broke on a flight from San Francisco to Honolulu last year. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "8 Emergency Landings That Rival the 'Miracle on the Hudson'," 15 Jan. 2019 Linking those interior lanes will enable WSDOT to pursue its vision of a continuous 40-mile suburban crescent of express toll lanes, from Lynnwood to Puyallup. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Renton’s freeway carpool lanes make a $197 million connection this week," 19 Feb. 2019 Shares in five of China’s top six express-delivery companies have rebounded this year, supported by signs of resilient demand and attractive valuations. — Shen Hong, WSJ, "Investors Warm to the Firms That Underpin China’s E-Commerce Boom," 28 Jan. 2019 Besides Anna, the most interesting female character is Susan (Leslie Bibb), Jerry's fiancée, and the two express equal mania for competition. — Katie Walsh, latimes.com, "Ed Helms, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner and Isla Fisher deliver summer fun in comedy romp 'Tag'," 14 June 2018 The new transit option offers a stop at the Detroit Zoo for riders taking the SMART FAST Woodward express. — Deasia Paige, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Zoo, SMART partner for new Zoom to the Zoo bus service," 30 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

And when they do get heard, expressing an opinion that isn’t one of those that have defined the conversation for decades on cable news, they are usually met with huge resistance. — Vogue, "The Viral Taylor Swift Stan Story That Made Me Love the Internet Again," 5 Apr. 2019 For me, the most important thing is that each single medallion is layered in a way that allows it to be fully expressed, not hidden by another piece. — Will Kahn, Town & Country, "How to Layer Necklaces," 8 Mar. 2019 Encourage them to ask questions and express their concerns. — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, "12 Smart Ways to Make Dating After Divorce Easier, According to Therapists," 1 Mar. 2019 Lieberman may well be expressing the concerns of establishment Democrats in this case. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Dunked on Joe Lieberman for Hoping She's Not the Future of the Democratic Party," 11 Jan. 2019 In June, the Times reported that Facebook gave some 60 device makers access to user data, including Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company that US intelligence has expressed concerns about for years. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Facebook’s very bad year, explained," 21 Dec. 2018 Amazon employees expressed concerns about law-enforcement agencies potentially abusing the software, which has previously demonstrated racial bias, in an all-hands meeting with Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Andrew Jassy, Gizmodo reported Thursday. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Can Anyone Stop Our Slide into Face-Scanning Dystopia?," 9 Nov. 2018 But nobody—not my parents, not the English teacher who drove me to his house—expressed concern at Salinger’s intentions. — Joyce Maynard, Vogue, "46 Years Ago, I Left Yale for J.D. Salinger—This Fall, I’m Returning," 13 Sep. 2018 Felt good to my cold 🖤 to hear him express his love. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Is Buying His Dad Any House He Wants," 6 Mar. 2019

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

First Known Use of express

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for express

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French expres, from Latin expressus, past participle of exprimere to press out, express, from ex- + premere to press — more at press

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French espresser, from expres, adjective

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Dictionary Entries near express

Statistics for express

Last Updated

25 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for express

The first known use of express was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for express

express

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of express

(Entry 1 of 4)

: said or given in a clear way

: of a particular kind

: traveling at high speed with few stops

express

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of express (Entry 2 of 4)

: by a system that delivers letters and packages quickly : by express

express

noun

English Language Learners Definition of express (Entry 3 of 4)

: a system for delivering things (such as letters and packages) quickly

: a train or bus that travels quickly with few stops

express

verb

English Language Learners Definition of express (Entry 4 of 4)

: to talk or write about (something that you are thinking or feeling)

: to make (your thoughts and feelings) known by doing something other than talking or writing

: to show (an amount, quantity, etc.) by a sign or a symbol

See the full definition for express in the English Language Learners Dictionary

express

verb

ex·press | \ ik-ˈspres

expressed; expressing

Kids Definition of express

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : to make known especially in words I expressed my surprise.

2 : to represent by a sign or symbol The amount was expressed as a percentage.

3 : to send by a quick method of delivery

express

adjective

Kids Definition of express (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : clearly stated an express order

2 : of a certain sort I came for an express purpose.

3 : sent or traveling at high speed express mail

express

verb

Kids Definition of express (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : a system for the quick transportation of goods Send your package by express.

2 : a vehicle (as a train or elevator) run at special speed with few or no stops

express

transitive verb

ex·press | \ ik-ˈspres, ek-

Medical Definition of express

1 : to make known or exhibit by an expression

2a : to force out by pressure express breast milk manually or by electric pump

b : to subject to pressure so as to extract something some pumps express one breast at a time— Paula Lynn Parks

3 : to cause (a gene) to manifest its effects in the phenotype a gene selectively expressed in lung tumors also : to manifest or produce (a character, molecule, or effect) by a genetic process individuals with the gene express symptoms of the disease differentially expressed proteins