expression

A2 Topic:Communication

US /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #3934

Meanings

1

noun
A word or phrase that people use in a particular situation.

The expression "break a leg" should not be taken literally.
2

noun
The look on a person's face that shows how they feel.

They stared at the newcomer with a puzzled expression.
3

noun
The act of showing your thoughts, ideas, or feelings.

Painting was her favorite form of self-expression.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a word or phrase that... locution saying

2 noun · the look on a person's face... facefacial expressionlook

Word family

Forms expressions

Derived forms agroexpressionbioexpressioncoexpressiondownexpressiondysexpressionexpress expressibleexpressionalexpressionfulexpressionismexpressionistexpressionless

Appears in

Phrases (7)

See all

idiomatic expression
a fixed expression whose meaning differs from the combined literal meanings of its words

Adjective + noun
parenthetical expression
a word or phrase enclosed in parentheses

Adjective + noun
austere expression
a stern facial appearance showing little warmth or emotion

Adjective + noun
puzzled expression
a look on someone's face that shows confusion or uncertainty

Adjective + noun
quizzical expression
a facial look that shows mild puzzlement or a questioning attitude

Adjective + noun
troubled expression
a facial look that shows worry, distress, or unease

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French expression, from Late Latin expressiō, expressiōnem (“a pressing out”). Morphologically express + -ion.

expressiō la-lat

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Theater & Performance

External links

# expression

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/
**Frequency rank:** 3934

## Meanings
1. A word or phrase that people use in a particular situation.
2. The look on a person's face that shows how they feel.
3. The act of showing your thoughts, ideas, or feelings.

## Examples
- The expression "break a leg" should not be taken literally.
- They stared at the newcomer with a puzzled expression.
- Painting was her favorite form of self-expression.

## Derived Forms
- agroexpression
- bioexpression
- coexpression
- downexpression
- dysexpression
- express
- expressible
- expressional
- expressionful
- expressionism
- expressionist
- expressionless

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: expressiō

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French expression, from Late Latin expressiō, expressiōnem (“a pressing out”). Morphologically express + -ion.

## AI Etymology
Expression was borrowed from Middle French expression, from Late Latin expressiō, expressiōnem (“a pressing out”). Morphologically express + -ion. In current use, the main senses are “A word or phrase that people use in a particular situation” and “The look on a person's face that shows how they feel”.

## Topics
- Communication
- Theater & Performance

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