express 1 of 3

verb

ik-ˈspres How to pronounce express (audio)
Definition of expressnext
1
as in to voice
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) in a true democracy, a person can freely express his or her views

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2
as in to squeeze
to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of except as a fun event at festivals, nowadays people do not make wine by expressing grapes with their feet

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3
as in to signify
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind an upraised thumb is now universally recognized as a gesture expressing approval or encouragement

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4
as in to say
to convey in appropriate or telling terms could you express your opinion of the book in words a little more precise than "lousy"?

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5
as in to embody
to represent in visible form towering spires express in glass and steel the optimism of the age

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

express

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in specific
of a particular or exact sort a trip to the supermarket with the express purpose of buying milk

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explicit
so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning students are not allowed to leave the grounds during school hours unless they have express permission from the principal's office

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

express

3 of 3

noun

British
as in messenger
one that carries a message or does an errand the solicitors employ an express to deliver their summonses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word express distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of express are air, broach, utter, vent, and voice. While all these words 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

When is air a more appropriate choice than express?

In some situations, the words air and express are roughly equivalent. However, air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.

publicly airing their differences

When would broach be a good substitute for express?

The meanings of broach and express largely overlap; however, 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

In what contexts can utter take the place of express?

While in some cases nearly identical to express, utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.

utter a groan

When can vent be used instead of express?

The words vent and express can be used in similar contexts, but vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.

a tirade venting his frustration

Where would voice be a reasonable alternative to express?

The synonyms voice and express are sometimes interchangeable, but voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.

an editorial voicing their concerns

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 express
Verb
However, a number of European leaders have expressed concerns over the Israel’s actions in Gaza in recent days. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 May 2025 Trump’s affinity for Musk did not extend to the broader Republican party, however, as many GOP lawmakers publicly expressed doubts about the cuts Musk made. —Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Adjective
Some of these places were established for the express purpose of serving these functions: the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol in Washington and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, built to commemorate the country’s westward expansion. —Bethanee Bemis, The Conversation, 20 May 2025 Business Tech News #5 – One year later, Target calls its express self-checkout a success. —Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Noun
As previously reported by the Daily News, the massive overhaul of the largest borough’s bus network will give Queens 124 routes — 94 local and 30 express — with an emphasis on connecting bus riders to the rest of the city’s transit systems. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025 On Capitol Hill, some members of the president’s party express misgivings about Trump’s approach. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for express
Recent Examples of Synonyms for express
  1. voice
  2. squeeze
  3. signify
  4. say
  5. embody
  6. specific
  7. explicit
  8. messenger
Verb
  • The veteran safety recently voiced his frustrations on social media after hearing his former defensive coordinator discuss the offseason trade that sent shockwaves across Philly.
    — Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
  • Residents voice concerns about road conditions and the impact of traffic, Guerrero said.
    — Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of voice
Verb
  • Hundreds of people squeezed into the Jewish Community Center in Boulder, Colo., for a vigil that featured prayer, singing and emotional testimony from a victim and witnesses of the firebombing attack in the city’s downtown, after a federal judge blocked the deportation of the suspect’s family.
    — Colleen Slevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
  • In some towns, utility poles were removed so the caravans could squeeze through.
    — Angela Jackson, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • With Bitcoin presently trading around $106,000, this signifies a solid 55% gain on their investment.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • The ink on his crown — a large number 6 — signifies his status as the sixth member of a small but increasingly visible community: a local band of barbers and tattoo artists who call themselves Viet Chicanos.
    — Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Definition of signify
Verb
  • Officer and firefighters responded to a missing child in the area near 2401 Preston Road around 9 p.m., Frisco police said.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 June 2025
  • But Kenny said there has been progress in finding new tenants.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
Definition of say
Verb
  • Lindbergh, the tall, fresh-faced Midwesterner, embodied a new American archetype: the Lone Eagle.
    — David Rooney June 5, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
  • In curating the show, Moore sought to elevate artists whose work embodies this tension while also offering something tender, vulnerable, and defiant.
    — Okla Jones, Essence, 5 June 2025
Definition of embody
Adjective
  • Even without this week’s court decision, Trump would have had problems putting in place tariffs that target a specific company, said Lizbeth Levinson, a trade attorney at the law firm Fox Rothschild.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
  • For celebrities this week, the latest in hair, makeup, and nails were exalted through specific colors, styles, and of course, the agreement on what’s in this season.
    — India Espy-Jones, Essence, 2 June 2025
Definition of specific
Adjective
  • When confronted by a cop for defacing public property, Samantha lets her in on Richard's explicit transgression and instantly earns a metaphorical get-out-of-jail-free card from her new police officer ally.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 30 May 2025
  • What To Know The tech mogul entered politics last year with the explicit purpose of getting Trump elected for a second term as president, spending more than $75 million in the process.
    — Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Definition of explicit
Noun
  • Another combination of great writing and fine acting comes when Kiko Laureano becomes a messenger of magic, as if this visitor has just stepped out of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel and into Walter’s apartment.
    — Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 23 May 2025
  • This kind of universal integration means every product becomes a messenger.
    — Benjamin Claeys, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of messenger

Browse Nearby Words

expounds
express
expressed
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Cite this Entry

“Express.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/express. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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