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

Verify the source of the post, message or advertisement. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025

Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: excellence is not optional. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 June 2025

Verb

The White House has insisted the bill will pay for itself – and has rapidly accelerated its messaging efforts to rebut any analysis that says otherwise to mollify fiscal hawks on Capitol Hill. —Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 6 June 2025

Around 2019, the group abandoned the composition books and migrated to the messaging app Discord. —Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 4 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