express
/ɪkˈspres/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspres/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspres/ (ame, mw)
express — verb
- expresspresent simple I / you / we / they
- expresseshe / she / it
- expressedpast simple
- expressing-ing form
1. to communicate an emotion, viewpoint, or known truth by speaking, writing, throu
to communicate an emotion, viewpoint, or known truth by speaking, writing, through facial expression, or by your behaviour, so that others can perceive it
Aaron expressed his gratitude to the nurses with a warm handshake and a card.
express + noun phrase for showing feelings
Joon expressed doubt about the new policy during the team meeting on Friday.
The worried look on Shirin's face expressed her fear as the doctor entered the waiting room.
Kabir expressed the hope that the neighbourhood committee would support the new playground design.
Iris's latest watercolour paintings express a quiet grief over the loss of local wildlife.
- suppress
to keep a feeling from being shown
文法句型
express + noun phrase
express + wh-clause
express + that-clause
用法筆記
Commonly used with abstract nouns such as 'gratitude', 'concern', 'interest', 'support', and 'regret'. The subject can be a person or something that conveys meaning (artwork, facial expression, tone of voice).
常見錯誤
2. to share the essence of your personality, beliefs, or creativity — through art,
to share the essence of your personality, beliefs, or creativity — through art, writing, speech, or other personal outlets — making your identity and what you value clear to others
Sana expresses herself best through dance, which she has studied since the age of six.
express + reflexive pronoun + through + activity
Adina found it difficult to express herself clearly in the job interview.
The writing workshop helped Nora express herself with more confidence and honesty.
Romi expresses himself through music, composing songs about his experiences growing up in Seoul.
Bilal expresses himself most freely when he is sketching alone in the garden.
- communicate
broader; can refer to any exchange of information, not necessarily personal feelings
- articulate
more formal; emphasises speaking or writing clearly and fluently
文法句型
express + reflexive pronoun
express + reflexive pronoun + through/in/via
用法筆記
Almost always used with a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, themselves). The structure 'express oneself through/in' is common when referring to art, music, writing, or other creative activities.
常見錯誤
3. to send a letter, package, or product using a special fast delivery service that
to send a letter, package, or product using a special fast delivery service that guarantees quick arrival
Maeve expressed the signed contract to her lawyer so it would arrive by noon.
If you express the parcel today, the customer in Tokyo will receive it on Monday.
express + noun phrase + to + destination
Rodrigo's mother expressed the birthday gift by overnight courier so it would arrive on time.
Hassan expressed the documents to the embassy well before the visa deadline.
文法句型
express + noun phrase
express + noun phrase + to + destination
用法筆記
Used mostly in business or commercial contexts. The focus is on speed, not on the sending method itself. In North America, 'express' often refers to services like FedEx or UPS; in Britain, Royal Mail Special Delivery.
常見錯誤
4. to draw breastmilk out by squeezing the breast or using a pump, typically so it
to draw breastmilk out by squeezing the breast or using a pump, typically so it can be stored and given to a baby later from a bottle
Sivan expresses breast milk every morning before her shift at the hospital begins.
The midwife showed Jenna how to express milk comfortably using a hand pump.
express milk + using a tool/method
Many mothers express milk so that their partners can help with feeding during the night.
Rin expressed the extra milk after each feed and kept it in the freezer.
- pump
more informal; refers specifically to using a breast pump
文法句型
express + milk
express + breast milk
用法筆記
The object is usually 'milk' or 'breast milk'. The word 'express' in this sense is a medical or parenting term, not considered vulgar or overly technical. Commonly used in discussions about breastfeeding and infant nutrition.
express — adjective
- expresspositive
- more expresscomparative
- most expresssuperlative
1. describes a service, vehicle, or method that operates faster than the usual one,
describes a service, vehicle, or method that operates faster than the usual one, especially for sending goods or travelling
The company offers express delivery for orders placed before two in the afternoon.
express + delivery (fast shipping service)
Cyrus took the express train from Taipei to Kaohsiung and arrived in under two hours.
The motorway has an express lane reserved for vehicles with three or more passengers.
Marco sent the documents by express mail to ensure they reached London before the weekend.
An express bus runs between the airport and the city centre every thirty minutes.
- local
for trains or buses that stop at every station or stop
文法句型
express + noun (mail/service/train/lane)
用法筆記
Usually placed before a noun (attributive only — you do not say 'the service is express'). Common compounds include 'express train', 'express mail', 'express lane', 'express service', and 'express delivery'.
常見錯誤
2. stated clearly, directly, and in specific detail, leaving no room for doubt or c
stated clearly, directly, and in specific detail, leaving no room for doubt or confusion about what is meant
The contract contains an express clause that forbids employees from sharing client data.
Vivek gave his express permission for the research team to use the laboratory after hours.
express + permission (clear and direct authorisation)
The school's handbook is express about the ban on using mobile phones during lessons.
Nia made an express promise to repay the loan within six months of receiving it.
The festival organisers were express about requiring all vendors to submit their licences by the end of May.
文法句型
express + noun
be + express + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in legal and formal contexts. 'Express' in this sense contrasts with 'implied' — an express condition is stated in words, while an implied condition is understood without being stated. When used predicatively ('be express about/in'), it describes someone who speaks very clearly and directly.
常見錯誤
express — adverb
1. using a fast delivery service for sending letters, parcels, or goods, rather tha
using a fast delivery service for sending letters, parcels, or goods, rather than the ordinary postal method
Élise sent the package express to make sure her grandmother received it before Christmas.
The company ships all urgent orders express at no extra charge to the customer.
ship + express (verb + adverb for fast delivery)
If you mail the forms express today, they will reach the office by Friday morning.
The legal team asked us to courier the documents express rather than use ordinary post.
文法句型
send + noun phrase + express
ship + noun phrase + express
用法筆記
This adverb is always placed after the verb (post-verb position), never before it. Common verb partners are 'send', 'ship', 'mail', and 'courier'. It does not change form — there is no '-ly' version for this meaning.
express — noun
- expresssingular
- expressesplural
1. a train, bus, or other vehicle that travels quickly by making fewer stops than t
a train, bus, or other vehicle that travels quickly by making fewer stops than the ordinary service
We took the express from the airport downtown and saved nearly an hour.
take + the + express (common transport pattern)
The express to Brussels leaves from platform seven every two hours throughout the day.
Christopher usually travels by express because the local train stops at every small town.
Marta missed the express and waited an hour for the next one.
- fast train
more descriptive; less conventional as a standalone label
- local
a train or bus that stops at every station
文法句型
take + the + express
catch + the + express
travel + by + express
用法筆記
Often paired with 'the' when referring to a particular service ('the 8:15 express'). In British English, 'express' alone is common ('catch the express'); in American English, 'express train' is more frequent as a noun phrase.
常見錯誤
2. a system for sending letters, money, or goods faster and more reliably than the
a system for sending letters, money, or goods faster and more reliably than the ordinary postal service
The jeweller sent the ring by express so it would arrive before the wedding.
by + express (method of sending)
The visa documents that Erik sent by express from Brazil reached the office in just two days.
Lien paid extra for express because the regular post would have taken almost two weeks.
The spice company uses express for all orders to Japan to keep the products fresh on arrival.
- express mail
more specific; refers to the postal service product
- courier service
a private company that delivers packages quickly
文法句型
by + express
send + noun + by + express
use + express
用法筆記
Commonly used after 'by' ('send it by express') to indicate the method of delivery. Can also be used with 'use' ('use express'). In retail, 'express' sometimes appears as part of a service name, such as 'FedEx Express' or 'Parcelforce Express'.