Definition of expressionnext
1
as in voice
an act, process, or means of putting something into words the poem is his expression of his grief upon the loss of his beloved wife

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2
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling we could tell by the fans' expressions that the Chicago Cubs had lost again

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3
as in term
a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field the expression "John Doe" is used in legal proceedings to refer to a person whose actual name is either unknown or being withheld from the public

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4
as in phrase
a sequence of words having a specific meaning the popular expression "raining cats and dogs" is meaningless in other languages

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expression Clouding her expression is the premonition of Christ’s suffering. Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 Style is a form of expression, a reflection of your inner being, and doesn’t float away with every gust of wind. Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 6 Aug. 2026 Decades of political repression followed, including the demolition of some Buddhist monasteries and the suppression of all forms of political or cultural expression outside Communist Party control. ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 This blatant expression of fealty over objectivity perverts the process by choosing personal loyalists instead of independent public servants. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
Noun
  • Use your voice to build connection, clarify plans, and make cooperation feel easier for everyone involved.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Founded and led by Indigenous voices, we are dedicated to providing crucial services to address the urgent needs arising from this pressing issue.
    Dateline NBC, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The beloved comfort shoe has become a styling staple for those who know that the coolest looks are often the ones that feel effortless.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The desire for teens to overhaul their look during high school is a healthy part of adolescent development.
    Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Hurree offers monthly, quarterly, or annual terms, customer's choice, from the first day.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Trump’s gravitation toward grass may grow out of his decades as a New York real estate developer, time spent on the golf course and extensive, second-term efforts to revamp the White House and greater Washington in his own image.
    Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The phrase fused long-standing claims that alligators preferred Black flesh with newer stories of Black children being used to attract the reptiles.
    The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Carrington wasn't backing away from her use of the phrase.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Zahavy dissected the process that went into Albert Einstein’s formulation of his General Relativity Theory, noting that the scientist’s thinking evolved through three phases – deduction, induction, and finally, abduction.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • These medications come in many different formulations, including transdermal patches, pills, and vaginal creams and rings.
    Mara Gordon, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Ted doesn’t try to deny this, then presses on anyway with a smile.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Gramby asks her little girl, who has dark curls and a big smile.
    Kristin Wright, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The climactic scene in which Paulina conjures us with these words is one of the most breathtaking in Shakespeare.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • There's no timeline yet, no word on how the money splits among the six firms, and no first project named.
    Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The idiom and the small connecting words are all in the right places, and at this length that is hard to fake.
    Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Holden Caulfield is made to tell his own story, in his own strange idiom.
    Book Marks, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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