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

Snow adds that voice recognition technology is already used across a number of fields—often without individuals’ express knowledge or consent. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Artificial Intelligence Generates Humans’ Faces Based on Their Voices," 13 June 2019 Dinner is served nightly, and an express café will offer light breakfast and lunch with grab-and-go sandwiches at the end of June. — Susan Bryant, sun-sentinel.com, "Michael Schwartz debuts Tigertail + Mary, a veggie-focused eatery, in Coconut Grove," 7 June 2019 Lakeview not only has plenty of affluent residents but terrific transportation options, including a number of local and express buses serving the area along with Brown and Red Line stops. — Lisa Donovan, chicagotribune.com, "The Spin: How your tax dollars will fix state roads, plus will Mayor Lori Lightfoot push ride-share fee amid congestion?," 7 June 2019 The Fort Worth Police Department tweeted that the eastbound express lanes of I-820 reopened shortly after 4 p.m. Authorities have not released any details about what caused the crash. — Paul Cobler, Dallas News, "Fatal crash shuts down part of I-820 in North Fort Worth," 5 June 2019 There are dozens of express consignment stores in the tristate area that function like a private UPS, only for parcels from Ecuador. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "Rewind: What Guarding Uncle Sam's Borders Was Like in 1925," 11 Feb. 2019 The latest proposal would add express lanes from the Dulles Toll Road interchange to the American Legion Bridge. — Washington Post, "Virginia explores extending the 495 Express Lanes to the American Legion Bridge," 30 June 2018 The case was settled by Facebook agreeing to give consumers clear notice and obtain their express consent before sharing their information beyond their privacy settings. — John D. Mckinnon, WSJ, "U.S. Close to Ending Its Facebook Privacy Probe," 18 Jan. 2019 Out After-Party at The Underground: The Underground will offer all guests of Chef’s Night Out, the post-JBF gala event, free express entry as well as drink tickets for the first 100 guests. — Grace Wong, chicagotribune.com, "James Beard parties and events you actually can get into," 30 Apr. 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

The Manny Machado trade rumor express rolled through Philadelphia last week, months after its heralded stop on the South Side of Chicago. — Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Nationals spinning out of control under rookie manager Dave Martinez," 7 July 2018 Today the express gets in at 9:10, 100 minutes after departing. — Beth Teitell, BostonGlobe.com, "It’s not your imagination. Your Boston commute is getting worse.," 26 Mar. 2018 The German postal and logistics group reported $69.83 billion in revenue for 2018, up 1.8% from the year before, with the strongest growth in its express and global freight-forwarding divisions. — Jennifer Smith, WSJ, "DHL’s Appel Won’t Enter Logistics M&A Market," 17 Mar. 2019 The plan, sponsored by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, is to run an express trolley between Bayside Marketplace and a spot near the Miami Beach Marina. — Joey Flechas, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Miami wants to expand trolley service from downtown to South Beach," 13 June 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Pilots also have expressed anger that Boeing did not inform them about the new software that's been implicated in the fatal crashes. — Author: Angela Charlton, Anchorage Daily News, "CEO: Boeing made mistake in handling warning-system problem," 17 June 2019 Pilots also have expressed anger that Boeing did not inform them about the new software that’s been implicated in the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. — Time, "Boeing CEO Concedes 'Mistake' Made With 737 Max Jets," 16 June 2019 Businesspeople, lawyers and foreign governments have expressed considerable anxiety about the legislation. — The Economist, "Hong Kong’s leader backs down over controversial extradition bill," 15 June 2019 In polls, a majority of voters have expressed support for the wealth tax, including half of Republicans. — Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, "Can Elizabeth Warren Win It All?," 14 June 2019 Residents and local officials have increasingly expressed concerns about the eroding cliffs, atop which Amtrak and Coaster trains run daily. — Joshua Emerson Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Senate leader Atkins secures funding to stabilize crumbling Del Mar cliffs," 14 June 2019 And representatives from Congress have expressed frustration over not having the entire price tag up front. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "NASA administrator says it will cost an extra $20 to $30 billion to send astronauts back to the Moon," 14 June 2019 Democrats in the Senate have also expressed outrage against Mr. Trump's comments. — Grace Segers, CBS News, "Nancy Pelosi says Trump "does not know right from wrong"," 13 June 2019 The entire work depends on the probabilities expressed by Schrödinger’s equation. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Following Schrödinger’s cat to its death and giving it a reprieve," 5 June 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

17 Jun 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