WordGarden.ioexpression
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛksprˈɛʃən/
US
- /ɪksˈprɛʃən/
Meanings
Noun
the act of making thoughts or feelings known
a word, phrase, or way of saying something
a look on the face that shows a feeling
More meaningsFewer meanings
a symbolic formula in mathematics, logic, or programming
the production of a gene product from genetic information
Beyond the definition
An expression is not just about words; it is how we let the world see what is going on inside us. A joyful laugh is an expression of happiness, while a furrowed brow is an expression of worry. But it is not limited to emotions. The way someone puts their thoughts into words, their personal style of speaking, can also be called their expression. Artists use expression in painting, music, dance, and writing to share their inner world with others. Sometimes, it can also mean a fixed phrase, like "raining cats and dogs." Whether it is a look on a face, a way of speaking, or a work of art, expression is about making something inside us visible or clear to others.
The word "expression" has several layers of meaning, but at its core, it refers to the act of conveying thoughts, feelings, or ideas. It is the process of making our inner world visible or audible to others.
Most commonly, expression is used in relation to emotions. A facial expression, such as a smile, a frown, or a raised eyebrow, communicates what someone is feeling without a single word. When we say "her face was full of expression," we mean her feelings were clearly visible. We also use the noun to describe actions that show a feeling, such as an "expression of sympathy" or a hobby that becomes an "expression of one's creativity."
Expression also refers to the way someone communicates through language, including their style or choice of words. For instance, "his blunt expression often offended people" suggests his manner of speaking was very direct. In a similar way, the word can refer to a specific phrase or idiom; "break a leg" or "once in a blue moon" are common expressions whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the individual words.
In the world of the arts, expression is the soul of the work. A painter's use of color, a musician's melody, or a writer's rhythm are all forms of artistic expression. Here, the artist aims to manifest a unique perspective or emotion through their medium. Additionally, in technical fields like mathematics, an expression is a finite combination of symbols—like —that represents a particular value or quantity.
Whether it's a fleeting look, a characteristic way of speaking, a masterpiece of art, or a mathematical formula, an expression is the bridge between an internal concept and the outside world.
Examples
- 1
Facial reaction
Her expression changed as soon as she saw the test result.
- 2
Thanks
The letter was a sincere expression of thanks.
- 3
Creative arts
For some people, music is a form of expression.
- 4
Public anger
The protest was an expression of public anger.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Legal right
Freedom of expression is protected by law in many countries.
- 6
Common phrase
"Long time no see" is a common English expression.
- 7
Math
In math, simplify the expression inside the brackets first.
- Domainin math, an expression
a group of numbers and symbols
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- self-expression
- manifestation
- formulation
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- freedom of expression
- artistic expression
- expression of emotion
- give expression to
Word family
Explore
- language
- body language
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- expressionnoun
Forms
- expressionspluralnoun