express

1.verbtransitiveB1

Definition

to communicate an emotion, viewpoint, or known truth by speaking, writing, through facial expression, or by your behaviour, so that others can perceive it

Example

Aaron expressed his gratitude to the nurses with a warm handshake and a card.

express + noun phrase for showing feelings

Joon expressed doubt about the new policy during the team meeting on Friday.

Common collocations

express gratitude
express concern
express an opinion
express doubt
express interest

Synonyms

convey
more formal; suggests the message reaches the receiver effectively
voice
specifically about speaking out an opinion or complaint
state
more direct and formal; often used for facts or positions

Antonyms

suppress
to keep a feeling from being shown

Grammar Patterns

express + noun phrase

express + wh-clause

express + that-clause

Usage Note

Commonly used with abstract nouns such as 'gratitude', 'concern', 'interest', 'support', and 'regret'. The subject can be a person or something that conveys meaning (artwork, facial expression, tone of voice).

Common Mistakes

I want to express you my feelings.

I want to express my feelings to you.

'express' takes a direct object of what is expressed, not the person receiving it.

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1

Definition

to share the essence of your personality, beliefs, or creativity — through art, writing, speech, or other personal outlets — making your identity and what you value clear to others

Example

Sana expresses herself best through dance, which she has studied since the age of six.

express + reflexive pronoun + through + activity

Adina found it difficult to express herself clearly in the job interview.

Common collocations

express yourself through art
express yourself freely
express yourself clearly
express yourself in writing

Synonyms

communicate
broader; can refer to any exchange of information, not necessarily personal feelings
articulate
more formal; emphasises speaking or writing clearly and fluently

Grammar Patterns

express + reflexive pronoun

express + reflexive pronoun + through/in/via

Usage Note

Almost always used with a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, themselves). The structure 'express oneself through/in' is common when referring to art, music, writing, or other creative activities.

Common Mistakes

She expressed in her painting' (missing reflexive object).

She expressed herself in her painting.

the reflexive object is required when this sense means showing your thoughts or feelings.

3.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to send a letter, package, or product using a special fast delivery service that guarantees quick arrival

Example

Maeve expressed the signed contract to her lawyer so it would arrive by noon.

If you express the parcel today, the customer in Tokyo will receive it on Monday.

express + noun phrase + to + destination

Common collocations

express a package
express documents
express a parcel
express an order

Synonyms

dispatch
more formal; sending someone or something somewhere for a purpose
ship
common for packages and goods; can be fast or slow depending on method

Grammar Patterns

express + noun phrase

express + noun phrase + to + destination

Usage Note

Used mostly in business or commercial contexts. The focus is on speed, not on the sending method itself. In North America, 'express' often refers to services like FedEx or UPS; in Britain, Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Common Mistakes

I expressed the letter yesterday by putting it in the mailbox.

I expressed the letter yesterday using a courier service.

'express' as a verb implies using a special fast delivery system, not ordinary mail.

4.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to draw breastmilk out by squeezing the breast or using a pump, typically so it can be stored and given to a baby later from a bottle

Example

Sivan expresses breast milk every morning before her shift at the hospital begins.

The midwife showed Jenna how to express milk comfortably using a hand pump.

express milk + using a tool/method

Common collocations

express milk
express breast milk
express after feeding

Synonyms

pump
more informal; refers specifically to using a breast pump

Grammar Patterns

express + milk

express + breast milk

Usage Note

The object is usually 'milk' or 'breast milk'. The word 'express' in this sense is a medical or parenting term, not considered vulgar or overly technical. Commonly used in discussions about breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

1.adjectiveB1

Definition

describes a service, vehicle, or method that operates faster than the usual one, especially for sending goods or travelling

Example

The company offers express delivery for orders placed before two in the afternoon.

express + delivery (fast shipping service)

Cyrus took the express train from Taipei to Kaohsiung and arrived in under two hours.

Common collocations

express train
express mail
express delivery
express lane
express service
express bus

Synonyms

fast
more general; does not imply a special service or route
rapid
more formal; describes speed without the service connotation

Antonyms

local
for trains or buses that stop at every station or stop

Grammar Patterns

express + noun (mail/service/train/lane)

Usage Note

Usually placed before a noun (attributive only — you do not say 'the service is express'). Common compounds include 'express train', 'express mail', 'express lane', 'express service', and 'express delivery'.

Common Mistakes

The train is express.

It is an express train.

'express' as an adjective is usually used before the noun, not after linking verbs.

2.adjectiveB2

Definition

stated clearly, directly, and in specific detail, leaving no room for doubt or confusion about what is meant

Example

The contract contains an express clause that forbids employees from sharing client data.

Vivek gave his express permission for the research team to use the laboratory after hours.

express + permission (clear and direct authorisation)

Common collocations

express term
express condition
express permission
express consent
express purpose

Synonyms

explicit
very similar; 'explicit' is slightly more common in everyday language
clear
less formal; does not carry the legal connotation
specific
focuses on detail rather than directness of statement

Antonyms

implicit
suggested but not stated directly
vague
not clearly stated or explained

Grammar Patterns

express + noun

be + express + about + noun phrase

Usage Note

Common in legal and formal contexts. 'Express' in this sense contrasts with 'implied' — an express condition is stated in words, while an implied condition is understood without being stated. When used predicatively ('be express about/in'), it describes someone who speaks very clearly and directly.

Common Mistakes

She was express that she wanted coffee.

She was express about wanting coffee.

when used predicatively, 'express' is followed by 'about' or 'in', not directly by a that-clause.

1.nounB1

Definition

a train, bus, or other vehicle that travels quickly by making fewer stops than the ordinary service

Example

We took the express from the airport downtown and saved nearly an hour.

take + the + express (common transport pattern)

The express to Brussels leaves from platform seven every two hours throughout the day.

Common collocations

catch the express
take the express
the express to
travel by express

Synonyms

fast train
more descriptive; less conventional as a standalone label

Antonyms

local
a train or bus that stops at every station

Grammar Patterns

take + the + express

catch + the + express

travel + by + express

Usage Note

Often paired with 'the' when referring to a particular service ('the 8:15 express'). In British English, 'express' alone is common ('catch the express'); in American English, 'express train' is more frequent as a noun phrase.

Common Mistakes

I took express to London.

I took the express to London.

the definite article is needed when referring to a specific train or bus service.

2.nounB2

Definition

a system for sending letters, money, or goods faster and more reliably than the ordinary postal service

Example

The jeweller sent the ring by express so it would arrive before the wedding.

by + express (method of sending)

The visa documents that Erik sent by express from Brazil reached the office in just two days.

Common collocations

by express
send by express
use express
pay for express

Synonyms

express mail
more specific; refers to the postal service product
courier service
a private company that delivers packages quickly

Grammar Patterns

by + express

send + noun + by + express

use + express

Usage Note

Commonly used after 'by' ('send it by express') to indicate the method of delivery. Can also be used with 'use' ('use express'). In retail, 'express' sometimes appears as part of a service name, such as 'FedEx Express' or 'Parcelforce Express'.

Common Mistakes

I sent it with express.

I sent it by express.

the correct preposition is 'by', not 'with'.

Word family

expression
nounB1
expressive
adjectiveB2
expressively
adverbB2
expressionless
adjectiveC1
expressly
adverbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five describe making thoughts or feelings known, but they differ in formality, scope, and how directly the message is delivered. 'Express' is the most general and common word — you can express anything from gratitude to anger through words, face, or actions. 'Convey' suggests the message reaches the receiver successfully ('The report conveys the urgency of the situation'), and is slightly more formal. 'Voice' is specifically about speaking out, often about a complaint or opinion ('Residents voiced their concerns at the meeting'). 'State' is direct and factual, used for positions or facts rather than emotions ('The witness stated what she had seen'). 'Communicate' is the broadest of the group, covering any exchange of information between people, but it lacks the emotional nuance of 'express'. 'Articulate' emphasises clarity and fluency of expression ('He articulated his vision for the company with impressive precision'). Example: 'She expressed her feelings by crying' (natural and broad) vs 'She articulated her feelings in a well-written letter' (focused on careful wording).

convey ↗voicestate ↗communicate ↗articulate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

to express interest in
to express concern about
to express support for
to express regret over

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'express' entered English through French from the Latin verb 'exprimere', which literally means 'to press out' — a combination of 'ex-' (out) and 'premere' (to press). In the 13th century, it was used in its literal sense of squeezing or pressing out, such as expressing juice from fruit. By the 15th century, a figurative meaning emerged: 'to press out in words', or to state clearly. The delivery and transport sense appeared in the 19th century with the rise of express trains and fast postal services, carrying the idea of speed forward from the original notion of something being 'pressed out' quickly.

Entries near

Previous entries

Next entries

express

express — verb

1. to communicate an emotion, viewpoint, or known truth by speaking, writing, throu

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to share the essence of your personality, beliefs, or creativity — through art,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to send a letter, package, or product using a special fast delivery service that

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

4. to draw breastmilk out by squeezing the breast or using a pump, typically so it

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

express — adjective

1. describes a service, vehicle, or method that operates faster than the usual one,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. stated clearly, directly, and in specific detail, leaving no room for doubt or c

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

express — adverb

1. using a fast delivery service for sending letters, parcels, or goods, rather tha

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

express — noun

1. a train, bus, or other vehicle that travels quickly by making fewer stops than t

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a system for sending letters, money, or goods faster and more reliably than the

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near