expression

Definition of expressionnext
1
as in voice
an act, process, or means of putting something into words the poem is his expression of his grief upon the loss of his beloved wife

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2
as in look
facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling we could tell by the fans' expressions that the Chicago Cubs had lost again

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3
as in term
a pronounceable series of letters having a distinct meaning especially in a particular field the expression "John Doe" is used in legal proceedings to refer to a person whose actual name is either unknown or being withheld from the public

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4
as in phrase
a sequence of words having a specific meaning the popular expression "raining cats and dogs" is meaningless in other languages

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of expression There’s something definitely wrong with her, and Navarrette, 25, captures a lot of it just in her vivid expressions. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 May 2026 But because some crucial part of artistic expression is always slipping toward the incommunicable, the most powerful art is sometimes less a dialogue than a soliloquy. Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026 Your voice work and facial expressions are unsettling at times, especially in scenes like the party sequence. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026 Shabbat is one of the great expressions of that wisdom — and one that feels especially relevant today. Ari Berman, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
Noun
  • May 21 – June 20 Your voice has more range than usual today.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
  • Local leaders often respond to the loudest voices, and right now those voices tend to call for more sweeps and arrests.
    Shianne LeClaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • This time around, Swift paired her yellow look with Aquazzura twist leather sandals in beige, which retail for $835.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
  • Topline Mild northern lights activity this week is slated to continue Saturday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which forecast areas within eight states could get a look at the natural phenomenon.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • The Pistons view him as the coach of the future and the expectation, per league sources, is for Bickerstaff to be around long term.
    Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • Professional commentators tended to see these developments in so many local terms—turning, for their explanations, to national histories, cultures and institutions.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The phrase actually originates from a speech by 19th-century Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) leader Charles Stewart Parnell.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
  • Wright’s approach to the saxophone is often cubist in nature, reducing the music to isolated phrases and sounds and then battering them from every conceivable angle.
    Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • The additional patents can include new doses, formulations or delivery devices.
    Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 13 May 2026
  • Ashwagandha comes in a variety of formulations and dosage forms such as capsules, powders, and liquid.
    T'Keyah Bazin, Verywell Health, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • Stephen Colbert is going out with a smile — and with many jokes at CBS and its parent company Paramount’s expense.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
  • Mama's serene smile is fixed upon her stunningly gorgeous face.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • Each puzzle has exactly one solution, so watch out for words or items that seem to belong to multiple categories!
    Mark Cooper, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • One important tool in early natural-language-processing work was ranking the frequency of word sequences.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • And why in the world would anyone composing after the Second World War reëmbrace the long-irrelevant late-Romantic idiom of Puccini and Strauss, with its lush harmonies, rich orchestration, and powerful melodies?
    Russell Platt, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
  • These days, Andersen has the idioms flying in Carolina’s locker room.
    Sean Gentille, New York Times, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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