DictionaryAI

message

MES-ij/ˈmɛsɪd͡ʒ/

Pluralmessages

Verbmessages, messaging, messaged

6 meanings of message

Practice

  1. 1
    words passed onnouncountable
    A communication, or the thing communicated; any concept or piece of information conveyed from one person or group to another.

    The ambassador delivered a message from her government to the foreign minister.

    Voicemail stores messages for you when you can't answer the phone.

    UsageYou leave, send or get a message; it is a message from one person to or for another.

    Similarcommunication, note, dispatch

    Note

    The King James Bible of 1611 already has "I have a message from God unto thee."

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  2. 2
    main ideanouncountable
    An underlying theme or conclusion to be drawn from something, such as a story, speech, or work of art.

    The film's message is that wealth can't buy contentment.

    Her paintings carry a pointed message about environmental destruction.

    UsageOften a message about something, or the message of a story or speech.

    Similarmoral, theme, point, meaning, lesson

  3. 3
    text someoneverbintransitive
    To send a message, especially electronically by text or chat app, to someone, or to send something as a message.

    We messaged for hours last night about the move.

    Once the network goes down, the tablets can't message at all.

    UsageUsed with no object (We messaged all night), or with a recipient (I'll message you) with no to.

    Similartext

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    errandnounIrelandUKcountableplural
    An errand; a short trip made to deliver something or to fetch something for someone.

    She nipped out on a message for the old lady next door.

    Mam sent me on a message to the shop for milk and bread.

    UsageUsually go on a message or be on a message for someone.

    Similarerrand

    Note

    H.L. Brækstad's Victorian translation of Asbjørnsen's Norwegian tales has "I had been on a message for my father."

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

    • H. L. Brækstad translated Asbjørnsen's Norwegian tales during the Victorian period; the translation appeared in 1881. en.wikisource.org
    • The translation contains these exact words, spoken by Matthias in “Matthias the Hunter’s Stories”. fiftywordsforsnow.com
  2. 5
    groceriesnoundialectalIrelandNorthern EnglandScotlandcountable
    Groceries or items bought while shopping; used chiefly in the plural.

    Gran is away getting the messages before dinner.

    He carried the messages home in two heavy bags.

    UsageUsually the messages: go for the messages, get the messages, do the messages.

    Similargroceries, shopping, provisions

    Note

    A household plural of Ireland, Scotland and northern England: the messages are the shopping itself, as in going for the messages or doing the messages. It sits naturally beside the "errand" meaning, since the groceries are what the errand brings home.

  3. 6
    verbobsolete
    To bear or carry (news, words, or an announcement) as a message to someone.
    Note

    An obsolete use that casts the subject as the go-between: to message words was to carry them, as a herald or envoy would, rather than to send them yourself.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

    • An obsolete sense of message means to carry something as a message, with the subject acting as its bearer. en.wiktionary.org

Practice

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

Origin

Latin mittere ("send"), which goes back ultimately to Proto-Indo-European *meyth₂- ("to exchange"), gave Early Medieval Latin missāticum. That became Old French message and then Middle English message. The word partly took the place of Old English ærende, which survives as "errand."