expression

noun

ik-ˈspre-shən How to pronounce expression (audio)
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 His face was made of 10 interlocking prosthetic pieces glued to his skin, which moved with his facial expressions. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 Sid is smart enough to sniff this out, and the show seizes the opportunity to raise the romantic stakes through an adorably British expression of mutual libidinousness. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 There, the nationalist instincts driving Rubio’s speech found more vociferous expression. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026 Acting in support of Palestinians could be framed for a domestic and regional audience as an expression of Arab solidarity. — Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for expression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expression
  1. voice
  2. look
  3. term
  4. phrase
  5. formulation
  6. smile
  7. word
  8. idiom
Noun
  • This latest round of funding supports an exciting range of projects from emerging creatives forging new paths to established voices exploring new creative territory.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Hinds’ voice returns at the end to ask as the iconic lion, Aslan (who will be voiced by Meryl Streep), is formed out of some sort of cosmic dust to roar.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of voice
Noun
  • Faulk showed photos of some businesses that have replaced the highway fences with their own fences and how those have improved the look along the highway.
    — Lynn Kutter, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Other wild beauty looks were seen at Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, Kiko Kostadinov, Vaquera and Weinsanto.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of look
Noun
  • Peltola, who represented Alaska's at-large district from 2022 to 2025, is challenging Sullivan, a two-term incumbent.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The presentation at Aspen was a shipwreck, but somehow the term made it to shore.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of term
Noun
  • Zest has also been referred to as vitality, exuberance, and joie de vivre, the French phrase for the joy of living.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That sudden ascent, for a band spiritually in league with the Velvet Underground and Suicide, led some to wonder what exactly happened behind the social media scenes to get them there (one conspiratorial phrase got thrown around in particular).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of phrase
Noun
  • Intelligence, in this formulation, is maintained through nature’s continuing coherence; not added after matter becomes sufficiently complicated.
    — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For now, the researchers aren’t disclosing the exact formulation.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of formulation
Noun
  • The body had been laid on a blanket, and somebody had carefully opened the eyelids and pressed the mouth into a smile, for the picture.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Skip the predictable options and think about what would genuinely make her smile.
    — Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of smile
Noun
  • Their responses were not edited and are in the candidates’ own words.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The best power pop is simple, direct, and memorable, in both words and sound.
    — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of word
Noun
  • The first Velvet Underground album, the mid-period Beatles, Kinks, and Creedence Clearwater Revival records, with enough time, seem almost like different components to the same idiom.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Cinema is, after all, a language, and Belgian filmmakers come from a country built on the need to understand language as a bridge—between its regions, its people, and its idioms.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of idiom

Browse Nearby Words

expressing
expression
expressionist
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Cite this Entry

“Expression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expression. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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