message

American  

[mes-ij] / ˈmɛs ɪdʒ /

noun

1. a communication containing some information, news, advice, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, email, or other means.

2. an official communication, as from a chief executive to a legislative body.

   the president's message to Congress.

3. Digital Technology. a post or reply on an online message board.

4. the inspired utterance of a prophet or sage.

5. the point, moral, or meaning of a gesture, utterance, novel, motion picture, etc.

6. Computers. a warning, permission, etc., communicated by the system or software to the user.

   an error message;

   a message to allow blocked content.

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verb (used without object)

1. to send a message, especially an electronic message.

verb (used with object)

1. to send (a person) a message.

2. to send as a message.

idioms

1. get the message, to understand or comprehend, especially to infer the correct meaning from circumstances, hints, etc..

   If we don't invite him to the party, maybe he'll get the message.

message British  

/ ˈmɛsɪdʒ /

noun

1. a communication, usually brief, from one person or group to another

2. an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art

3. a formal communiqué

4. an inspired communication of a prophet or religious leader

5. a mission; errand

6. (plural) shopping

   going for the messages

7. informal to understand what is meant

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verb

1. (tr) to send as a message, esp to signal (a plan, etc)

message More Idioms  

1. see get the message.

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Other Word Forms

• intermessage noun

Etymology

Origin of message

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin miss(us) “sent” (past participle of mittere “to send”) + -āticum -age

Example Sentences

Listeners interpret Kiedis’ lyrics in many ways, but regardless of what he intended, the song’s message circles back to nurturing and harnessing one’s individuality into a creative fuel.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Instead, the attack sent a message that Iran could hit Americans in places they thought were protected.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

"People have different reasons for aligning with the exact same message," Fenley said.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

That's a message designed to resonate deeply in a country on the losing side of both World Wars.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

When I blinked, the last message came back into focus: Bye forever.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Related Words

• directive
• information
• letter
• memo
• memorandum
• news
• note
• notice
• report
• word