plural expressions
1
: the act of making your thoughts, feelings, etc., known by speech, writing, or some other method : the act of expressing something
freedom of expression [=freedom to say and show what you feel and believe]
Dance is a form of artistic/creative expression.
She is always looking for new ways to give expression to [=to express] her ideas.
Her competitive spirit found expression [=was expressed] in sports.
an expression of affection
expressions of anger
2
: a word or phrase
a slang expression
He uses some very odd expressions.
The expression "to make fun of" means "to ridicule."
Note: People say excuse/pardon/forgive the expression when they are using a word or phrase that might offend or annoy someone.
3
: the way someone's face looks that shows emotions and feelings
Judging from her expression, I think the gift was a complete surprise.
We saw his expression change from angry/anger to sad/sadness.
facial expressions
She wore/had a smug expression.
4
: a way of doing something (such as speaking or singing) that shows emotions and feelings
I told him to read the poem with more expression.
5
mathematics
: a symbol or a combination of symbols and signs representing a quantity or process
10₃ is an exponential expression.
Cite this Entry
“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/expression. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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