Address
/əˈdrɛs/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe location of a place, person, or organization.
/ˈædrɛs/
Location details
My address is 123 Main Street.
💡 Simply: Where someone or something is.
More Examples
The company's address is listed on their website.
How It's Used
"Please write your full address on the package."
"What's your home address?"
To speak or write to someone.
/əˈdrɛs/
To speak to
He addressed the audience with confidence.
💡 Simply: To talk or write to.
More Examples
The letter addressed the concerns of the community.
How It's Used
"The president addressed the nation on television."
"We need to address the problem of pollution."
Idioms & expressions
Address the issue
To deal with or tackle a problem.
"We need to address the issue of poverty immediately."
From Old French *adresser, from Vulgar Latin *ad-rectiare, from Latin ad- 'to' + rectus 'straight, right'. Originally meant 'to set straight' or 'to direct'.
The word's usage has evolved from its literal meaning of 'to direct' to its more common modern meanings of location and speaking to.
Memory tip
Think of 'addressing' a letter - you need the location.