message
message — noun
1. a brief spoken or written communication that one person passes to another, typic
a brief spoken or written communication that one person passes to another, typically because they are unable to talk face to face at that moment.
Hari left a message for Elena saying the meeting had been moved to Friday afternoon.
leave a message for + person + that-clause
Shirin received a voice message from her sister, who was traveling in South Korea.
receive a message from + person/place
The receptionist took a message when Gabriel called, but forgot to pass it on.
take a message (take notes for someone)
Pim sent a text message to his landlord to confirm the moving date.
text message / sent a message to [person] + to [purpose]
- leave a message
- send a message
- get a message
- receive a message
- text message
- voice message
- message from
- note
shorter and almost always written; less formal than 'message'
- communication
more formal and broader in scope, often used for official exchanges
- memo
a written message within an organization, more formal
Grammar Patterns
leave/ send/ get + a message
message + from/ to/ for
Usage Note
This is the broadest sense of 'message' and applies to any short communication — spoken, written, or electronic. In the phrase 'leave a message', it often refers to a recorded phone message or a note passed through a third person.
Common Mistakes
2. a signal that travels through the nervous system, carrying information between t
a signal that travels through the nervous system, carrying information between the brain and other parts of the body.
The nerves in Ignacio's fingers sent a message when he touched the hot pan.
nerves send a message to the brain
A message traveled along Ayana's nerve path when the doctor tapped her knee.
message travels along a nerve path
A bicycle fall damaged Felipe's nerve cells, blocking messages from his brain to his legs.
block messages from [body part] to [body part]
After eating sugar, Tara's brain sends a chemical message to release insulin from the pancreas.
brain sends a chemical message to [organ] + to [function]
- send a message
- nerve message
- chemical message
- block messages
Grammar Patterns
send + a message + from/ to [body part]
Usage Note
This sense is primarily used in biology and medicine. The word is used with verbs like 'send', 'carry', 'travel', and 'block', usually in the singular with 'a' or in the plural.
Common Mistakes
3. the central point or lesson that an author, speaker, film-maker, or artist hopes
the central point or lesson that an author, speaker, film-maker, or artist hopes to get across to people.
The message of the film was that family matters more than money or success.
the message of [work] + that-clause
Nkechi's speech carried a clear message about protecting the environment for future generations.
carry a clear message about [topic]
Ezra read the report three times but could not find the message about job cuts.
find the message about [topic]
The artist's work sends a powerful message about the human cost of war.
sends a powerful message about [topic]
- the message of
- main message
- clear message
- powerful message
- carry a message
- send a message
Grammar Patterns
the message of [noun]
message + that-clause
Usage Note
Unlike sense 1, this meaning is abstract — the 'message' is not a specific piece of information but an overall lesson, argument, or moral. Common with 'of' (the message of the book) or a that-clause (its message is that...).
Common Mistakes
4. the meaning that a person figures out from someone else's indirect hints or acti
the meaning that a person figures out from someone else's indirect hints or actions, without those things being stated directly.
After Sophia yawned three times, Hao finally got the message and ended the conversation.
get the message + and + action taken
The landlord raised the rent, hoping the tenants would get the message and leave.
Elena did not get the message when her date kept checking the time during dinner.
When the manager stopped inviting Amihan, she got the message and found a new job.
finally got the message (after repeated hints)
- get the message
- finally get the message
- take the hint
more polite and slightly more formal; same meaning
Grammar Patterns
get the message
Usage Note
This sense is almost exclusively used in the fixed expression 'get the message'. The phrase means 'understand what someone is indirectly trying to tell you'. It does not have a direct object (you cannot 'get the message something'). The subject is usually a person who has been missing hints.
Common Mistakes
5. a strong signal or idea that someone's actions or words deliberately communicate
a strong signal or idea that someone's actions or words deliberately communicate to other people, often with a social or political purpose.
By hiring people from different backgrounds, the company sent a message that it valued diversity.
send a message that + clause (deliberate signal)
Quinn chose to quit and sent a strong message to management about working conditions.
send a strong message to [audience] about [issue]
The new law sent a clear message that crime would not be tolerated.
Selim knew that leaving early would send the wrong message to his new team.
send the wrong message (negative consequence)
- send a message
- send a clear message
- send a strong message
- send the wrong message
Grammar Patterns
send (out) a message
send a clear message
Usage Note
Common in the phrases 'send a message' and 'send a clear/strong message'. The 'message' here is not a literal piece of information — it is an impression or signal created by an action. Frequently used in political, social, or workplace contexts.
Common Mistakes
get the message
idiomTo understand what someone is trying to tell you without saying it directly.
After she kept checking her phone, I got the message and ended the call.
Did you get the message when he started yawning during your story?
on/off message
idiomSaying or not saying what your political party or organization officially believes.
The senator stayed on message during the entire interview about tax reform.
Her off-message comments about the budget surprised the party leaders.
message — verb
1. to communicate with someone by writing a brief electronic note on a phone or com
to communicate with someone by writing a brief electronic note on a phone or computer.
Eri messaged Marta on WhatsApp to ask about the homework assignment.
message + [person] + on [platform]
Obi messaged his manager that he would be late due to the train delay.
message + [person] + that-clause
Gita messaged Sivan a photo so they could meet at the concert entrance.
message + [person] + [thing] (double object)
Ziad said he would message later when he had more information about the flight.
message (intransitive, no direct object)
- message someone
- message back
- message on [platform]
- message about [topic]
Grammar Patterns
message + someone
message + someone + on/ through/ via [platform]
message + that-clause
Usage Note
This verb is informal and primarily used for digital messaging (text, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.). It can be used with or without a direct object: 'I messaged her' (transitive) or 'I'll message later' (intransitive). In formal writing, 'send a message to' or 'text' is often preferred.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words refer to short written communications, but they differ in medium and formality. A 'message' is the broadest term — it can be spoken, written, or electronic, and it can be left for someone when direct conversation is not possible. A 'note' is almost always written by hand or typed briefly, often as a reminder or quick update ('She left a note on the fridge'). A 'memo' (short for memorandum) is a formal written message within an organization, used to share official information with colleagues. A 'text' or 'text message' is specifically a short electronic message sent via a mobile phone. For example: 'Hari left a message with the receptionist' (any form), 'Hari wrote a note on the kitchen table' (handwritten), 'The CEO sent a memo about the new policy' (formal, internal), and 'Hari sent a text asking where Elena was' (electronic).
Common collocations
Etymology
'Message' entered English around 1300 from Old French 'message', which came from the Medieval Latin 'missaticum' — meaning 'something sent'. The Latin root 'missus' is the past participle of 'mittere', meaning 'to send'. Other English words from the same root include 'mission', 'missive', and 'missile'.