express

ik-SPRES/ɪkˈspɹɛs/

Verbexpresses, expressing, expressed

Noun pluralexpresses

20 meanings of express

Practice

1
communicateverbtransitive
To say or show what you think or feel.
Like putting a feeling into words so other people can understand it.
She could not express her thanks in words.
He expressed his anger by slamming the door.
UsageSay express your thanks to someone. Express yourself means show what you think or feel.
Similarconvey, communicate, voice, articulate, show
Oppositeconceal, hide, suppress
2
explicitadjective
Clearly and directly stated, not just hinted at.
Like a sign that says exactly what to do, instead of leaving you to guess.
She gave express permission to use her photo.
The rules contain an express ban on glass bottles.
UsageUse it before a noun: express permission, express wishes.
Similarclear, explicit, direct, specific, plain
Oppositeimplied
Note
3
limited-stopadjective
Fast, and not stopping at every place along the way.
Like a bus that goes straight there without stopping along the way.
We took the express bus straight downtown.
The express train does not stop at small stations.
UsageUse it before a noun: an express train, an express bus.
Similarfast
Oppositelocal
4
numbersverbtransitive
To write or show a number or amount in a certain way or unit.
Can you express 0.5 as a fraction?
On this map, every distance is expressed in miles.
UsageUse as for the form (as a fraction) and in for the unit (in miles).
Similarrepresent, write
5
rush mailnouncountable or uncountable
A service that sends mail or money very fast from one place to another.
Like a fast lane just for letters and money.
She sent the package by express to reach them overnight.
We paid extra to send the documents by express.
UsageSay you send something by express.
Similarcourier
6
genesverbtransitive
In biology, when a cell uses a gene to make the thing it codes for.
Like following a recipe card to cook the finished meal.
Cells express proteins by reading their messenger RNA.
When the cell expresses the gene, it builds the matching protein.
Note

Less common meanings

7
nouncountable
A fast or direct train or other vehicle that skips many stops along its route.
Like a fast bus that only stops at the biggest places.
The express to Boston leaves at noon.
We just missed the last express of the evening.
UsageSay take the express. The train that stops at every station is the local.
Oppositelocal
Note
8
verbtransitive
To send something by a fast mail or delivery service.
I'll express the tickets to you so they get there tomorrow.
The store expressed the missing part to our house.
UsageSay express something to someone, often overnight.
Similarship, courier, send
9
quick serviceadjective
Offering faster but more limited service than a full store of the same type.
Like a small corner shop that keeps only the things people buy most.
The express store sells only the most popular items.
We grabbed lunch at the express counter near the gate.
UsageStores often put Express after their name, with a capital E.
10
squeeze outverbtransitive
To squeeze a liquid out of something by pressing, such as milk.
Like pressing a sponge to push the water out.
New mothers often express milk to store for later.
She expressed a little juice from the lemon.
UsageSay express milk, or express juice from a lemon.
Similarsqueeze, extract, press
Note
11
adverb
In a fast, direct way, without stopping at every place, or by a fast delivery service.
Like going straight to the front without stopping along the way.
This train runs express to the city center.
We shipped the box express so it would arrive tomorrow.
UsageIt comes after the verb: the train runs express.
Similarfast
12
nounhistoricalcountable
A person sent quickly to carry a message or package.
Like a fast runner sent to carry an important note.
The general sent an express with urgent orders.
I learned, to my inexpressible terror, that at two o'clock, the day before, an express had been sent to Geraldine by Mr Bergasse, with a letter, which he had received from the Hotel de Romagnecourt.
1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond
Similarcourier, messenger, runner
Note
13
delivery officenounhistoricalcountable
A place where a delivery company takes in and hands out fast shipments.
In the old mining town, people picked up their letters and money at the express.
The clerk at the express weighed each parcel before shipping.
14
nouncountable
A message or package sent quickly by a special messenger.
He broke the seal on the express and read the urgent orders.
The general broke the seal and read the express as soon as the rider handed it over.
Similardispatch, message, missive
Note
15
nounobsolete
The act of sharing an idea through words or actions.
Whereby they discoursed in silence, and were intuitively understood from the theory of their expresses.
1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia EpidemicaHere, expresses means ways of expressing ideas or communicating.
Note
16
commandnounobsolete
A clear, exact order or statement given to someone.
Note
17
exact likenessadjectiveliterary
Looking exactly like something and being a true copy of it.
Like a mirror image that matches the original in every detail.
The boy is the express likeness of his father.
Her portrait was the express image of the old queen.
Similarexact, precise, faithful, true
Oppositeinexact, approximate
Note
18
nounobsolete
A clear picture or plain statement of something.
Note
19
nounPhilippines
A jeepney or similar shared vehicle that runs along the expressway in and around Manila.
20
noun
A hunting rifle that fires bullets at high speed, now usually a large-caliber gun for hunting big game.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of express apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2–3, 5, 7, 9, 11–14, 17–18

From French exprès, which came from Latin expressus, the past participle of exprimere.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English express derives from French exprès. en.wiktionary.org
French exprès derives from Latin expressus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin expressus is the past participle of exprimere. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15–16

From Old French espresser, from a form of the Latin verb exprimere.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb express comes from Old French espresser. en.wiktionary.org
Old French espresser derives from a form of the Latin verb exprimere. en.wiktionary.org