Meaning & use
expressed
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“expressed” is a form of “express”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
said or showed a thought, feeling, or opinion in words, actions, or another way
Grammar: This is the past tense and past participle of 'express'. It takes an object: 'She expressed her thanks.'
Patterns
- expressed something
- expressed something to someone
- expressed oneself
She expressed her gratitude to the whole team.
He expressed his opinion clearly during the debate.
They expressed their concerns about the new policy.
verbtransitive
sent something quickly by a special fast service
Grammar: This is a less common sense, usually used for mail or packages. It is the past tense of 'express' in that meaning.
Patterns
- expressed something to someone
- expressed a package
The company expressed the documents to the lawyer overnight.
She expressed the gift to her sister so it would arrive on time.
Word forms
| base form | express |
|---|---|
| third person singular | expresses |
| present participle | expressing |
| past tense | expressed |
| past participle | expressed |
Common combinations
- expressed concern
- The parents expressed concern about the school's safety rules.
- expressed interest
- Several students expressed interest in the new club.
- expressed gratitude
- He expressed gratitude for all the support he received.
- expressed an opinion
- She expressed an opinion that surprised everyone.
Synonyms and how they differ
- said
- Simpler and more direct; 'expressed' often suggests putting a feeling or idea into words, while 'said' just reports speech.
- voiced
- Often used for opinions or complaints; 'expressed' is broader and can cover feelings and thanks.
- conveyed
- More formal and suggests communicating a message indirectly; 'expressed' is more direct.
Opposites
Word family
- express verb
- To say or show what you think or feel.
- expression noun
- The act of expressing, or a word or phrase used to express something.
- expressive adjective
- Good at showing feelings or ideas clearly.
Commonly confused: expressed or expresed?
expressed vs expresed
This is a common misspelling. The correct spelling has two s's: 'expressed'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using 'expressed'.
Choose one answer.
Option A follows the usual pattern: express + object + to + person. Option B places the object after 'to everyone', which is awkward and unnatural. Options C and D have incorrect word order.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “expressed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.