Address

/əˈdɹɛs/ noun, verb

noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: Direction.; Guidance; help.
  • Grammar: address is listed as noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: speech, abated, abiding place, ability.
  • Useful contrasts: slight influence, besieging, dodge.
  • Usage evidence: Please give me your permanent address.

How to use "address"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "address" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "address" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "address" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "address" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "address" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "speech" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "address", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Direction.; Guidance; help. obsolete
  2. 2
    the ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion wordnet
  3. 3
    Direction.; A polite approach made to another person, especially of a romantic nature; an amorous advance. archaic, in-plural

    "[H]e was thus agreeable, and I neither insensible of his Perfections, nor displeased at his Addresses to me […]."

  4. 4
    the stance assumed by a golfer in preparation for hitting a golf ball wordnet
  5. 5
    Direction.; A manner of speaking or writing to another; language, style.

    "a man of pleasing or insinuating address"

Show 16 more definitions
  1. 6
    (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored wordnet
  2. 7
    Direction.; A formal approach to a sovereign or head of state, especially an official appeal or petition.
  3. 8
    written directions for finding some location; written on letters or packages that are to be delivered to that location wordnet
  4. 9
    Direction.; A formal approach to a sovereign or head of state, especially an official appeal or petition.; A response given by each of the Houses of Parliament to the sovereign's speech at the opening of Parliament. Commonwealth
  5. 10
    a sign in front of a house or business carrying the conventional form by which its location is described wordnet
  6. 11
    Direction.; An act of addressing oneself to a person or group; a discourse or speech, or a record of this.

    "Mr. Gregson, who had listened to this address with considerable impatience, could contain himself no longer."

  7. 12
    the manner of speaking to another individual wordnet
  8. 13
    Direction.; A description of the location of a property, usually with at least a street name and number, name of a town, and now also a postal code; such a description as superscribed for direction on an envelope or letter.

    "Where we once sent love letters in a sealed envelope, or stuck photographs of our children in a family album, now such private material is despatched to servers and clouds operated by people we don't know and will never meet. Perhaps we assume that our name, address and search preferences will be viewed by some unseen pair of corporate eyes, probably not human, and don't mind that much."

  9. 14
    the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience wordnet
  10. 15
    Direction.; The location of a property.

    "I went to his address but there was nobody there."

  11. 16
    the place where a person or organization can be found or communicated with wordnet
  12. 17
    Direction.; A number identifying a specific storage location in computer memory.

    "The program will crash if there is no valid data stored at that address."

  13. 18
    Direction.; A string of characters identifying a node or range of nodes on a network (especially the Internet), such as an e-mail address, IP address or URL. Internet
  14. 19
    Preparation.; Preparedness for some task; resourcefulness; skill, ability. archaic

    "This is one bad effect of a good Character—it invites applications from the unfortunate and there needs no small degree of address to gain the reputation of Benevolence without incurring the expence.—"

  15. 20
    Preparation.; The act of getting ready; preparation. obsolete

    "But now again she makes address to speak."

  16. 21
    Preparation.; The act of bringing the head of the club up to the ball in preparation for swinging. Scotland
Verb
  1. 1
    To prepare oneself. intransitive, obsolete

    "Let us address to tend on Hector's heels."

  2. 2
    adjust and aim (a golf ball) at in preparation of hitting wordnet
  3. 3
    To direct speech. intransitive, obsolete

    "Young Turnus to the Beaubteous Maid addreſs’d."

  4. 4
    speak to wordnet
  5. 5
    To aim; to direct. obsolete, transitive

    "And this good knight his way with me addrest."

Show 21 more definitions
  1. 6
    give a speech to wordnet
  2. 7
    To prepare or make ready. obsolete, transitive

    "His foe was soone addrest."

  3. 8
    speak to someone wordnet
  4. 9
    To prepare oneself; to apply one's skill or energies (to some object); to betake. reflexive, transitive

    "These men addressed themselves to the task."

  5. 10
    put an address on (an envelope) wordnet
  6. 11
    To direct one’s remarks (to someone). reflexive

    "1701, Thomas Brown, Laconics, or New Maxims of State and Conversation, London: Thomas Hodgson, section 76, p. 103, In the Reign of King Charles the Second, a certain Worthy Divine at Whitehall, thus Address’d himself to the Auditory at the conclusion of his Sermon."

  7. 12
    act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression wordnet
  8. 13
    To clothe or array; to dress. archaic, transitive

    "Likewise Vincentius, and Petrus de Natalibus, and others your writers and recorders of fables could have told you that Tecla sometime addressed herself in man's apparel, and, had she not been forbidden by St Paul, would have followed him in company as a man."

  9. 14
    direct a question at someone wordnet
  10. 15
    To direct, as words (to anyone or anything); to make, as a speech, petition, etc. (to any audience). transitive

    "though the young Heroe had addreſs’d his Prayers to him for his aſſiſtance"

  11. 16
    address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question wordnet
  12. 17
    To direct speech to; to make a communication to, whether spoken or written; to apply to by words, as by a speech, petition, etc., to speak to. transitive

    "Are not your orders to address the senate?"

  13. 18
    access or locate by address wordnet
  14. 19
    To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit. transitive

    "He addressed a letter."

  15. 20
    greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name wordnet
  16. 21
    To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo. transitive
  17. 22
    To consign or entrust to the care of another, as agent or factor. transitive

    "The ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore."

  18. 23
    To address oneself to; to prepare oneself for; to apply oneself to; to direct one's speech, discourse or efforts to. transitive

    "He stepped away from the sink, put up the toilet ring (Vi complained bitterly if he forgot to put it down when he was through, but never seemed to feel any pressing need to put it back up when she was), and addressed the John."

  19. 24
    To direct attention towards a problem or obstacle, in an attempt to resolve it. formal, transitive

    ""By all means we want people to use social media, but we do not want you to use it in ways that will incite violence," said Jonathan Toy, Southwark council's head of community safety. "This remains a big issue for us and without some form of censorship purely focusing on [violent videos], I'm not sure how we can address it.""

  20. 25
    To refer to a location in computer memory. transitive
  21. 26
    To get ready to hit (the ball on the tee). Scotland, transitive

Synonyms

All synonyms
speechabatedabiding placeabilityabodeacademic discipline approach

Antonyms

slight influencebesiegingdodgedodges

Example

"Please give me your permanent address."

Common questions

What does "address" mean?

Direction.; Guidance; help.

What is a synonym for "address"?

Common synonyms include: speech, abated, abiding place, ability, abode, academic discipline approach.

How do you use "address" in a sentence?

Please give me your permanent address.

How do you pronounce "address"?

Pronounced /əˈdɹɛs/.

Etymology

From Middle English adressen (“to raise erect, adorn”), from Old French adrecier (“to straighten, address”) (modern French adresser), from Proto-Romance *addīrēctiāre, from ad- (“to; towards”) + *dīrēctiāre (“to guide; to direct”), from Latin dīrēctus (“straight; right”), from dīrigō (“to lay straight; to direct”), itself from regō (“to govern, to rule”). Cognate with Spanish aderezar (“to garnish; dress (food); to add spices”).

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Synonyms

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