messages
messages — noun
1. written notes or short texts sent from one person to another, especially using a
written notes or short texts sent from one person to another, especially using a mobile phone or an online application
Rania checks her messages the moment she wakes up every morning.
check + messages (frequent verb collocation)
Darius scrolled through his messages while waiting for the bus.
scrolled through + messages (digital context)
The red badge on the app icon means you have new unread messages.
Elena sent three messages to the group chat before anyone replied.
Old handwritten messages from her grandmother are kept in a wooden box.
- text
a more specific term meaning a message sent over a mobile phone network; 'text' implies SMS rather than app-based messages
- note
a short informal written message, usually on paper; 'note' is less common for digital communication
- DM (direct message)
a private message sent through a social media platform; more specific than 'messages'
文法句型
messages + arrive/appear
send/receive/read/check + messages
用法筆記
Used as a plural noun. The singular form 'message' is used for one item: 'I received a message from Daniel.'
常見錯誤
2. the main ideas, lessons, or meanings that a person, book, film, speech, or campa
the main ideas, lessons, or meanings that a person, book, film, speech, or campaign communicates to an audience
The messages in Tuan's children's books are about kindness and courage.
messages + in + [work] (location pattern)
Political campaigns often repeat their core messages across different media.
core messages (typical adjective-noun collocation)
The film's twin messages of hope and forgiveness stayed with viewers long after the credits.
Amihan felt that the conflicting messages from the two news channels were confusing.
The company's public health messages reached millions of people through social media.
- theme
the central topic or subject of a work; a 'theme' is broader than a 'message' and does not always carry a lesson
- meaning
what something communicates to the audience; 'meaning' can be personal and subjective
- lesson
a moral or practical truth learned from an experience or story; more specific to instructional content
文法句型
the messages + of + [work]
messages + about + [topic]
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense refers to abstract meanings rather than concrete written texts. The singular 'message' is also common: 'The message of the film is clear.'
常見錯誤
messages — verb
- messagespresent simple I / you / we / they
- messageses3rd person singular
- messagesing-ing form
- messagesedpast simple
1. to send a short written note to someone by phone or through an online messaging
to send a short written note to someone by phone or through an online messaging service
Sofie messages her daughter every evening to say goodnight.
messages + [recipient] (transitive, simple object)
Whenever Hui is running late for a meeting, he messages his team leader right away.
The clinic messages patients a reminder twenty-four hours before each appointment.
Romi messages her brother a photo of the sunset almost every day.
Instead of calling, Ilan prefers to message through the work chat system.
文法句型
message + someone
message + someone + something
message + back
用法筆記
This sense is very common in everyday digital communication. The past tense is 'messaged': 'Ayesha messaged me last night.' The verb 'text' is a synonym but is generally used for SMS messages rather than app-based messages.
常見錯誤
2. to send a piece of information to someone as a written or spoken communication,
to send a piece of information to someone as a written or spoken communication, either directly or through another person
The assistant messages the weekly sales report to all department heads every Friday.
messages + [content] + to + [recipient]
Kevin messages the delivery instructions directly to the courier before noon.
The embassy messages travel warnings to citizens registered on the system.
When a patient misses an appointment, the system messages a reminder to their phone.
- send
a general-purpose verb; 'send' is neutral and can be used for any form of delivery, not just short texts
- forward
means to pass along a message received from someone else; more specific than 'message'
- transmit
a formal term for sending information through a system; less common in everyday conversation
文法句型
message + something + to + someone
用法筆記
This sense is more formal and often implies an official or automated transmission. The focus is on the content being sent, whereas sense 1 focuses on the act of contacting someone.
3. to exchange information with someone through the sending and receiving of writte
to exchange information with someone through the sending and receiving of written notes or electronic texts, usually over a period of time
The two research teams have been messaging back and forth for months about the experiment.
messaging back and forth (reciprocal intransitive)
Instead of calling her directly, Daniel prefers messaging through the company chat platform.
The students messaged throughout the evening to coordinate the project deadline.
Nia and her cousin messaged each other all day to plan the birthday party.
- correspond
a more formal term for exchanging letters or messages; implies a longer-term exchange
- chat
an informal synonym; 'chat' can be used for spoken conversation, while 'message' implies written communication
文法句型
message + back and forth
message + about + [topic]
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes the interactive or back-and-forth nature of the communication, unlike sense 1 which focuses on a single act of sending. It is often used with adverbial phrases like 'back and forth', 'throughout the day', or 'about the plan'.