message

1 of 2

noun

mes·​sage ˈme-sij 

1

: a communication in writing, in speech, or by signals

Please take this message for me to my friend.

2

: a messenger's mission

the girl will go on a message to the shop

—Cahir Healy

3

: an underlying theme or idea

the message is that it is time to change

—The Economist

message

2 of 2

verb

messaged; messaging

transitive verb

1

: to send as a message or by messenger

2

: to send a message to

intransitive verb

: to communicate by message

Synonyms

Noun

• communication
• dispatch

Examples of message in a Sentence

Noun

Did you get my message?

She has received messages of support from hundreds of people.

I left a message on her answering machine.

He's not here right now. Can I take a message?

I liked the story but I didn't really agree with the book's message.

He believed in the church's message of forgiveness.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Read more: Vikings' JJ McCarthy Just Got a Big Update From NFL Insider McCaffrey has now spoken out with a bold message about his recovery and what has been a big help for him on his path back to the gridiron. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

But Goyeneche said such escapes are most common during a work or medical release, rather than busting through jail walls and taking time to scrawl a mocking message. —Chris Kenning, USA Today, 17 June 2025

Verb

Meanwhile, domains are being configured to leverage Telegram's messaging API, either by auto-redirecting visitors or by presenting a Telegram bot interface. —Emma Woollacott, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

A number of social media and messaging apps are banned or heavily restricted in Iran, including Instagram, Telegram, and X, but millions of Iranians still access the sites via VPNs. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin missaticum, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing message

• error message
• get the message
• message board
• off message
• on message
• short message service
• text message

Rhymes for message

• presage
• expressage

Kids Definition

message

noun

mes·​sage

ˈmes-ij

1

: a communication in writing, in speech, or by signals

2

: a messenger's errand or function

3

: an underlying theme or idea

Etymology

Noun

Middle English message "job or function of a messenger," from early French message (same meaning), from Latin missaticum "something given to a messenger to deliver," from earlier missus (past participle of mittere "to send, throw") and -aticum "action, result" — related to emit, mission, promise, submissive