Address — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ə-ˈdres/ ad·dress

Meaning & Definition of Address

Address (verb)

  1. to deal with or give attention to
  2. to direct the efforts or attention of (oneself)
  3. to mark directions for delivery on

Address (noun)

  1. a place where a person or organization is located or may be communicated with
  2. directions for delivery on the outside of an object (such as a letter or package)
  3. the designation of place of delivery placed between the heading and salutation on a business letter

Address (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently

    "the problem will only get worse if you don't address it now"

    similar: contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat, come to grips with, have a grip on
    related: engineer, finesse, jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, react (to), respond (to)
    near: botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

  2. to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

    "please address yourself to what I'm saying and not to the television"

    similar: apply, bend, buckle, devote, give, get cracking, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand
    related: readdress, reapply, knuckle down, set (to), settle (down), busy, commit, concern, engage, involve, exert, exhaust, put out, spend, strain, stress, tax, trouble, wear out, carry on, pitch in, plunge (in), grind, hump, hustle, peg (away), plod, plow, plug (away), work
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

  3. to transmit information or requests to

    "you may address the manager about your problems tomorrow"

    similar: communicate (with), contact, get, reach, get hold of, get in touch with, touch base (with)
    related: get through (to), acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up), buzz, call, phone, ring (up) (chiefly British), telephone, keep up (with)

Address (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience

    "George Washington's Farewell Address"

    "a papal address"

    similar: declamation, harangue, oration, peroration, speech, talk
    related: diatribe, rant, tirade, eulogy, panegyric, tribute, keynote address, lecture, salutatory, homily, sermon, monologue, soliloquy, pitch, presentation, spiel

  2. the way or manner in which one conducts oneself

    "a gentleman with all of poise and social address that one would expect of someone coming from old money"

    similar: actions, bearing, behavior, comportment, conduct, demeanor, deportment, geste (archaic)
    related: etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties, p's and q's, amenity, civility, courtesy, decorum, politeness, air, attitude, carriage, poise, pose, posture, presence, aspect, look, mien, formality, protocol, rules, custom, habit, habitude, pattern, practice, trick, wont, convention, fashion, mode, style, affectation, attribute, characteristic, mark, trait, distinctiveness, oddity, peculiarity, singularity, strangeness, uniqueness, weirdness

Related Entry: Keynote address (noun)

Keynote address is a different word from Address. The synonyms below are for keynote address, not for address.

  1. as in lecture, salutatory

    similar: lecture, salutatory, eulogy, panegyric, tribute, homily, sermon, diatribe, rant, tirade, monologue, soliloquy, address, declamation, harangue, oration, peroration, speech, talk, pitch, presentation, spiel

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Address

The most common words with a similar meaning to Address:

Archaic: geste
contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat, apply, bend, buckle, devote, give, communicate (with), contact, get, reach, come to grips with, have a grip on, get cracking, get one's act together, get with it, turn one's hand, get hold of, get in touch with, touch base (with), declamation, harangue, oration, peroration, speech, talk, actions, bearing

Related Words for Address

engineer, finesse, jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, react (to), respond (to), readdress, reapply, knuckle down, set (to), settle (down), busy, commit, concern, engage, involve, exert, exhaust

Near Antonyms of Address

botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp, dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Word Forms of Address

Inflections: addressed, addressing, addresses

Derived words: addresser (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Address

Middle English adressen "to guide, direct, set in order, mark with a destination," borrowed from Anglo-French adrescer, adresser "to make straight, direct, guide," from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + drescer, dresser "to direct, put right" dress:1

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Address

Words & Phrases Containing Address

address book, inside address, IP address, keynote address, public-address system, form/term of address, forwarding address, mailing address

Frequently Asked Questions about Address

What does "Address" mean?

"Address" means to deal with or give attention to. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to deal with or give attention to. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Address"?

Other words for "Address" include contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage and maneuver. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Address" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Address"?

There are 177 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Address". Common alternatives include contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, maneuver, manipulate and negotiate.

How do you use "Address" in a sentence?

Examples of "Address" in a sentence: "the problem will only get worse if you don't address it now"; "please address yourself to what I'm saying and not to the television"; "you may address the manager about your problems tomorrow".

Is "Address" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Address" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Address" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Address" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Address"?

"Address" is pronounced /ə-ˈdres/ and divided into syllables as ad·dress.

What is the origin of the word "Address"?

"Address" comes from Middle English adressen "to guide, direct, set in order, mark with a destination," borrowed from Anglo-French adrescer, adresser "to make straight, direct, guide," from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + drescer, dresser "to direct, put right" dress:1. First known use: 14th centuryt.