I. ex ‧ press 1 S2 W1 /ɪkˈspres/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: adverb : ↑ expressively , ↑ expressionlessly , ↑ inexpressibly ; adjective : ↑ expressive ≠ ↑ inexpressive , ↑ expressionless , ↑ inexpressible ; noun : ↑ expression , ↑ expressiveness ; verb : ↑ express ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Early French expresser , from Latin expressus ; ⇨ ↑ express 2 ]
1 . FEELING to tell or show what you are feeling or thinking by using words, looks, or actions
express your views/opinions
Bill’s not afraid to express his opinions.
Parents have expressed their concerns about their children’s safety.
She expressed an interest in seeing York.
express something in/by/through something
Express your reasons for applying in simple terms.
express sympathy/fear/anger etc
She doesn’t express her emotions as much as he does.
express thanks/gratitude (for something) (to somebody) (=thank someone in a speech or by writing a letter)
Finally, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to all those who have helped today.
express doubts/reservations
The USA expressed reservations before agreeing to sign the agreement.
Many people have expressed their opposition to the proposals.
express yourself (=say what you think or feel)
Young children often have difficulty expressing themselves.
He first learnt to express himself through movement at his dance classes.
Words can’t express (=it is impossible to describe) how angry we felt.
2 . PARTICULAR EMOTION to show or describe a particular feeling:
Many of Munch’s paintings express a deep feeling of despair.
3 . something expresses itself if something expresses itself, it becomes noticeable SYN something reveals itself :
Religious faith expresses itself in a variety of ways.
4 . MATHEMATICS technical to change an amount or quantity into a different form, especially in mathematics
express something as/in something
Express three-quarters as a decimal.
The value of the coffee becomes significantly higher when expressed in foreign currency.
5 . FEEDING BABIES if a woman expresses milk, she presses milk out of her breast in order to feed it to her baby later
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ nouns
▪ express your views/opinions/ideas
Everyone who attends the meeting will be given the opportunity to express their opinions.
▪ express your feelings
He felt unable to express his feelings in a letter.
▪ express an interest in something
Many property developers have expressed an interest in buying the land.
▪ express concern (=say or show that you are worried)
Financial analysts have expressed concern about the possibility of a recession.
▪ express your thanks/gratitude/appreciation (=say thank you to someone, in a speech)
On behalf of the team, I’d like to express our appreciation for all your efforts.
▪ express doubts/reservations (=say or show that you are not sure whether something is true or right)
Environmentalists began to express doubts about the benefits of biofuels.
▪ express surprise/shock
‘I don’t believe he could hurt anyone,’ she said, expressing her surprise.
▪ express anger
Teachers have expressed anger at the government’s education reforms.
▪ express your grief (=say or show that you are very sad, especially because someone you love has died)
She searched for further words to express her grief, but could find none.
▪ express your sympathy (=say that you feel sorry for someone who is in a bad situation)
I wrote to his widow expressing our sympathy and sending her our condolences.
▪ express confidence
Throughout the trial, his legal team expressed confidence in the outcome.
▪ express your hopes/desires (=say what you hope or want to happen)
Nadia expressed her hopes about remaining in San Diego County with her two children.
▪ express your support (=say that you support someone or something)
The Israeli leader expressed his support for the U.S. plan.
▪ express opposition to something (=say that you oppose someone or something)
Local people have expressed their opposition to plans for a new airport.
▪ express a willingness to do something (=say or show that you are willing to do something)
The unions expressed a willingness to have talks with the employers.
■ adverbs
▪ express something openly (=express a feeling in a way that is obvious to other people)
They expressed their anger openly in the meeting.
▪ express something clearly (=express an idea or opinion in a way that other people can understand)
He expresses his views very clearly.
■ phrases
▪ express yourself (=say what you think or feel)
He is very confident and finds it easy to express himself.
▪ a chance/opportunity to express something
The debate will give MPs an opportunity to express their views in detail.
▪ words cannot express something (=it is impossible to describe something)
Words can’t express how much I miss her.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to say something
▪ say to tell someone something, using words:
‘I really ought to go,’ she said.
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Lauren said she’d probably be late.
▪ state to say something, especially in a definite or formal way – used in official contexts:
The witness stated that he had never seen the woman before.
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Please state your name and address.
▪ announce to publicly tell people about something:
The chairman announced his resignation.
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The results will be announced tomorrow.
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We will announce the winners next Sunday.
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They were announcing the train times over the loudspeaker system.
▪ declare to say something very firmly:
‘My personal life is none of your business,’ she declared.
▪ mention to talk about someone or something, especially without giving many details:
Did Tom mention anything about what happened at school?
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Your name was mentioned!
▪ express to let someone know your feelings by putting them into words:
Young children often find it difficult to express their emotions.
▪ comment to say what your opinion is about someone or something:
The prime minister was asked to comment on the crisis.
▪ note/remark formal to say that you have noticed that something is true – used especially in formal writing:
We have already noted that most old people live alone.
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Someone once remarked that the problem with computers is that they only give you answers.
▪ add to say something more, after what has already been said:
He added that he thought it could be done fairly cheaply.
▪ point out to mention something that seems particularly important or relevant:
Dr Graham points out that most children show some signs of abnormal behaviour.
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It’s worth pointing out that few people actually die of this disease.
▪ air to talk about your opinions, worries, or the things you disagree about: air your views/grievances/differences :
The programme will give listeners the chance to air their views about immigration.
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Workers were able to air their grievances.
▪ voice to talk publicly about your feelings or about whether you approve or disapprove of something formal : voice concern/support/doubt/fears etc :
The president has already voiced his support for the proposal.
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She voiced concern for the safety of the hostages.
II. express 2 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: exprès , from Latin expressus , past participle of exprimere 'to press out' , from premere 'to press' ; the idea of 'speed' comes from trains stopping only at specific places, so the complete journey takes less time ]
1 . deliberate and for a specific situation:
The school was founded with the express purpose of teaching deaf children.
2 . clear and definite
express agreement/consent/authority etc
He is not to leave without my express permission.
Matthew left express instructions to keep all doors locked.
3 . express train/coach/bus a train or bus that does not stop at many places and can therefore travel more quickly
4 . express post/mail a system that delivers letters and packages very quickly
5 . American English designed to help you move through a place more quickly:
express lanes on the freeway
an express line at a supermarket (=where people with only a few things to buy go to pay)
III. express 3 BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable usually singular] a train or bus that does not stop in many places and therefore travels quickly
London–Gatwick Express/Orient Express (=a fast train or bus which does a particular journey regularly)
2 . [uncountable] a post service that delivers letters and packages very quickly:
Send these books by express.
IV. express 4 BrE AmE adverb
send/deliver something express to send or deliver a letter, package etc quickly using a special post service