1
: a communication in writing, in speech, or by signals
Please take this message for me to my friend.
2
: a messenger's mission
The girl will go on a message to the shop.—
Cahir Healy
Cahir Healy3
: an underlying theme or idea
The message is that it is time to change.—The Economist
The Economist4
: an official position (as of a political party)
Their candidate's speech was on/off message. [=included things that did/did not conform to the party's official position]
see also get the message
messaged; messaging
: to communicate by message
Examples of message in a Sentence
Noun
Did you get my message?
She has received messages of support from hundreds of people.
I left a message on her answering machine.
He's not here right now. Can I take a message?
I liked the story but I didn't really agree with the book's message.
He believed in the church's message of forgiveness.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Dec. 2025
Crowded court dockets could get worse The lack of funding has amplified concerns that the rights of defendants may be chipped away under an increasingly conservative Supreme Court, and sends a message that poor people do not have the same rights in court as the wealthy, Wayne said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Advocacy organizations and longtime fans argued the comment aligned with messaging increasingly used in conservative political spaces to push back against transgender inclusion, especially in schools and public life.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for message
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Noun
The Star-Telegram contacted the presidents and advisers for those fraternities asking for their perspectives, but those email messages were not returned.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Dec. 2025
Crowded court dockets could get worse The lack of funding has amplified concerns that the rights of defendants may be chipped away under an increasingly conservative Supreme Court, and sends a message that poor people do not have the same rights in court as the wealthy, Wayne said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
For the meeting in the Hamptons, Ackman had assembled a group largely composed of individuals who used their social-media followings to amplify messaging supportive of Israel.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Advocacy organizations and longtime fans argued the comment aligned with messaging increasingly used in conservative political spaces to push back against transgender inclusion, especially in schools and public life.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for message
Cite this Entry
“Message.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/message. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
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