address

[ noun uh-dres, ad-res; verb uh-dres ]

noun

1. a speech or written statement, usually formal, directed to a particular group of persons:

   the president's address on the state of the economy.

   Synonyms: lecture, discourse

2. a direction as to the intended recipient, written on or attached to a piece of mail.
3. the place or the name of the place where a person, organization, or the like is located or may be reached:

   What is your address when you're in Des Moines?

4. manner of speaking to persons; personal bearing in conversation.
5. skillful and expeditious management; ready skill; dispatch:

   to handle a matter with address.

   Synonyms: cleverness, adroitness, tact, ingenuity

6. Computers.
   1. a label, as an integer, symbol, or other set of characters, designating a location, register, etc., where information is stored in computer memory.
   2. a set of characters designating an email account:

      Her email address ends in “.net,” not “.com.”

   3. a set of characters designating the location of a website or a particular computer or other device on a network: URL

      He visits that website so often that its complete address comes up whenever he types its first letter into the address bar.

7. Government. a request to the executive by the legislature to remove a judge for unfitness.
8. Usually addresses. attentions paid by a suitor or lover; courtship.
9. Usually Address. the reply to the king's speech in the English Parliament.
10. Obsolete. preparation.

verb (used with object)

, ad·dressed, ad·dress·ing.

1. to direct a speech or written statement to:

   to address an assembly.

2. to use a specified form or title in speaking or writing to:

   Address the president as “Mr. President.”

3. to direct to the attention:

   He addressed his remarks to the lawyers in the audience.

4. to apply in speech (used reflexively, usually followed by to ):

   He addressed himself to the leader.

5. to deal with or discuss:

   to address the issues.

6. to put the directions for delivery on:

   to address a letter.

7. Commerce. to consign or entrust to the care of another, as agent or factor.
8. to direct the energy or efforts of (usually followed by to ):

   He addressed himself to the task.

9. Computers. to direct (data) to a specified memory location in a computer.
10. Golf. to take a stance and place the head of the club behind (the ball) preparatory to hitting it.
11. Obsolete. to woo; court.
12. Archaic. to give direction to; aim.
13. Obsolete. to prepare.

verb (used without object)

, Obsolete.

, ad·dressed or ad·drest, ad·dress·ing.

1. to make an appeal.
2. to make preparations.

address

/ əˈdrɛs /

noun

1. the conventional form by which the location of a building is described
2. the written form of this, as on a letter or parcel, preceded by the name of the person or organization for whom it is intended
3. the place at which someone lives
4. a speech or written communication, esp one of a formal nature
5. skilfulness or tact
6. archaic.
   manner or style of speaking or conversation
7. See direct access
   computing a number giving the location of a piece of stored information See also direct access
8. government a statement of the opinions or wishes of either or both Houses of Parliament that is sent to the sovereign
9. the alignment or position of a part, component, etc, that permits correct assembly or fitting
10. usually plural expressions of affection made by a man in courting a woman

verb

1. to mark (a letter, parcel, etc) with an address
2. to speak to, refer to in speaking, or deliver a speech to
3. used reflexively; foll by to
   1. to speak or write to

      he addressed himself to the chairman

   2. to apply oneself to

      he addressed himself to the task

4. to direct (a message, warning, etc) to the attention of
5. to consign or entrust (a ship or a ship's cargo) to a factor, merchant, etc
6. to adopt a position facing (the ball in golf, a partner in a dance, the target in archery, etc)
7. to treat of; deal with

   chapter 10 addresses the problem of transitivity

8. See woo
   an archaic word for woo

Derived Forms

• adˈdresser, noun

Other Words From

• ad·dress·er ad·dres·sor noun
• half-ad·dressed adjective
• pre·ad·dress noun verb (used with object)
• re·ad·dress verb (used with object) readdressed readdressing
• un·ad·dressed adjective
• well-ad·dressed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of address¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English adressen “to adorn,” from Middle French adresser; a- ⁵, dress

Word History and Origins

Origin of address¹

C14: (in the sense: to make right, adorn) and c15 (in the modern sense: to direct words): via Old French from Vulgar Latin addrictiāre (unattested) to make straight, direct oneself towards, from Latin ad- to + dīrectus direct

Synonym Study

See speech.

Example Sentences

About two months ago, however, Lensable tweaked the pop-up and gave customers the option of either giving their email address or texting the brand to receive the discount code.

From Digiday

While there are paid and premium VPNs that are generally more mindful about your privacy, they aren’t anonymous, as they can be linked to your billing address.

From TechCrunch

Hillary Clinton has a new podcast, Betsy DeVos faces an ethics investigation, and the UN General Assembly begins without addresses from any female leaders.

From Fortune

Alyssa Samek, assistant professor at Cal State Fullerton, says that running is a “mode of public address.”

From Outside Online

Only 10 percent of tests administered — 190 — were to people with Mexico addresses.

From Voice of San Diego

Many of those who have become cops in New York seem to have ceased to address such minor offenses over the past few days.

From The Daily Beast

“Stay in formation,” a sergeant from the ceremonial unit said over a public address system to the cops along the street.

From The Daily Beast

In his State of the Union address 50 years ago, LBJ laid out his vision for the Great Society.

From The Daily Beast

Left and right think the way to address racial strife is through policy.

From The Daily Beast

Nor do these studies address the structural and systematic issues that contribute to obesity, such as poverty and stress.

From The Daily Beast

Aristide uncovered his head, as though he were about to address a duchess, and smiled at her engagingly.

From Project Gutenberg

But, he finally secured the address of a company who would manufacture a book to exceed 300 pages for fifty cents per book.

From Project Gutenberg

Truly the flag of Britain was trailing in the mire, or these men would not have dared to address him in that fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

Her Majesty passed through the town on the 30th of August, 1852, when an address was presented to her.

From Project Gutenberg

His lordship suggested that Garrick should write an address to the audience for the players.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• home
• location
• number
• ZIP code