address
address
Pronunciation
address
/əˈdrɛs/
First Syllable (/ə/):
/ə/ - a schwa sound, like the 'a' in 'about'
Second Syllable (/drɛs/):
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive, like the 'd' in 'dog'
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant, like the 'r' in 'red'
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel, like the 'e' in 'bed'
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative, like the 's' in 'snake'
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: address
Plural: addresses
Verb:
Base form: address
Third-person singular present: addresses
Present participle: addressing
Past tense: addressed
Past participle: addressed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A formal indication of a location, typically a house number, street name, city, and postal code, used for directing mail or navigation.
Synonyms: location, residence, domicile, whereabouts
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense)
A formal speech or written communication delivered to an audience or recipient, often on a specific occasion or topic.
Synonyms: speech, lecture, discourse, presentation, oration, message
Antonyms: silence, muttering, whisper
The specific combination of characters used to identify a resource on a computer network, such as an IP address or email address.
Synonyms: identifier, locator, handle, username (in some contexts)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense)
A person's manner, bearing, or deportment, especially in social interactions.
Synonyms: demeanor, bearing, conduct, manner, comportment
Antonyms: awkwardness, clumsiness, rudeness
Verb
To speak or write to a person or group, especially formally or directly.
Synonyms: speak to, talk to, communicate with, accost, hail, greet
Antonyms: ignore, disregard, avoid, shun
To deal with or give attention to a problem, issue, or question.
Synonyms: tackle, handle, manage, resolve, confront, attend to, focus on
Antonyms: neglect, overlook, ignore, avoid, postpone
To write an address on an envelope or package.
Synonyms: label, mark, inscribe, direct
Antonyms: unmark, erase (in the sense of removing an address)
To direct one's efforts, attention, or remarks to a particular person or group.
Synonyms: target, direct, aim, focus
Antonyms: misdirect, scatter, diffuse
Examples of Use
Books:
"His gaze drifted to the framed photograph on the mantel, a sepia-toned image of his grandparents standing proudly in front of their first address on Elm Street." (From a fictional novel focusing on family history)
"In The Elements of Style, Strunk and White often address common grammatical errors and stylistic pitfalls for aspiring writers." (A reference to a well-known style guide)
Newspapers:
"The Mayor will address the city council tonight to outline the new budget proposals." ( The New York Times, June 25, 2025)
"Police are urging anyone with information about the missing person to contact them at the provided address or phone number." (Local Herald)
Online Publications:
"This article will address the growing concerns about data privacy in the age of artificial intelligence." (TechCrunch)
"Please ensure your shipping address is accurate to avoid delays in your order." (E-commerce website checkout page)
"Users who violate our community guidelines will have their IP address flagged and may face temporary or permanent bans." (Online forum's terms of service)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Character in a detective film) "I need you to trace this burner phone. See if you can get an address on where it was activated." (The Departed)
Television Series: (Politician on a news program) "We must address the systemic issues contributing to income inequality in this country." (House of Cards)
Video Games: (In-game notification) "Enter your new base address to update your fast travel options." (Fallout 4, in-game prompt)
Music: (Lyrics from a song) "She sent a letter, no return address, just a broken heart and a fading caress." (Fictional song lyrics)
Podcasts: (Host discussing a current event) "Today, we're going to address the recent controversy surrounding the latest AI chatbot." (The Daily)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you give me your address so I can send you the thank-you card?" (Everyday conversation between friends)
"The teacher had to address the disruptive behavior of some students during the assembly." (Parent discussing a school incident)
"I need to update my billing address with the bank." (Common administrative task)
"The company held a town hall meeting to address employee concerns about the new policy." (Workplace discussion)
10 Famous Quotes Using Address
"We must address not only what is broken, but why it was allowed to break." — Barack Obama
"You can't address what you're unwilling to acknowledge." — Brené Brown
"Addressing poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice." — Nelson Mandela
"If you don’t address the root of the problem, you’ll keep trimming the leaves forever." — Stephen Covey (paraphrased)
"My address is like my shoes. It travels with me. I abide where there is a fight against wrong." — Mary Harris "Mother" Jones
"To address an audience is to risk being changed by them." — James Baldwin (interpreted from his speeches and essays)
"We must address the mind, but we must never forget the heart." — Franklin D. Roosevelt (paraphrased from his fireside chats)
"We will not address climate change through denial. We must face it with innovation and courage." — Al Gore
"Great leaders don’t avoid conflict. They address it with clarity and compassion." — Simon Sinek (adapted from leadership talks)
"Never address your fears from a place of fear — address them from your power." — Marianne Williamson
Etymology
The word "address" has a fascinating journey through language! It actually comes from an older French word, "adrecier," which meant something like "to straighten, set right, or direct." This French word, in turn, came from a Latin root: "ad-" (meaning "to" or "toward") combined with "directus" (meaning "straight" or "right"). So, at its very core, "address" has always had the idea of directing something straight towards something else.
The earliest known uses of "address" in English date back to the 14th century. At that time, it was primarily used as a verb with meanings like:
To guide or aim: Think of literally aiming something straight. This older sense is still seen in golf, where "to address the ball" means to position yourself and the club to hit it directly.
To set in order or repair: This goes back to the idea of "making something right" or "straightening it out."
Over time, the meaning expanded. The idea of "directing" eventually led to:
Directing spoken words: By the late 15th century, it meant to speak directly to someone or a group. This is where we get the sense of a "speech" or "formal address."
Directing mail: In the mid-15th century, it began to mean writing the destination on a letter or package, which then naturally led to the idea of the "place of residence" (around the early 19th century) that we commonly think of today.
So, while we use "address" in many different ways now, they all trace back to that original idea of making something straight or directing it towards a specific point.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Address
Address an issue/problem: To deal with or confront a particular concern.
Address the elephant in the room: To speak about an obvious, uncomfortable issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to mention.
Address oneself to something: To direct one's attention or efforts towards a task or goal.
Address a gathering/audience: To speak formally to a group of people.
Address by name/title: To refer to someone using their proper name or title.
Direct one's remarks: To aim one's comments at a specific person or group (synonymous with "address remarks").
Take up a matter: To begin to deal with a particular issue (similar to "address an issue").
Tackle a challenge: To confront and deal with a difficult situation (similar to "address a challenge").
Put one's house in order: To organize one's affairs or improve one's situation, often by addressing existing problems.
Head-on approach: Dealing with a difficult situation directly and without avoidance (metaphorical for how one might "address" a problem).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of address from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
