mes·sage
Pronounced:
/ˈmɛsɪʤ/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural mes·sag·esMeaning:
1 [count] : a piece of information that is sent or given to someone ▪ an e-mail message ▪ deliver/send/receive a message ▪ Did you get my message? ▪ She has received messages of support/sympathy from hundreds of people. ▪ Were there any messages for me? = Did anyone leave a message for me? ▪ I left a message on her answering machine. ▪ He's not here right now. Can I take a message? ▪ The computer displayed an error message. [=a message indicating that an error has occurred] —see also text message
2 [singular] : an important idea that someone is trying to express in a book, movie, speech, etc. ▪ I liked the story but I didn't really agree with the book's message. ▪ He believed in the church's message of forgiveness. ▪ She hopes the speech will help her to get the party's message across. [=help her to tell people what the party believes or stands for]
2 [singular] : an important idea that someone is trying to express in a book, movie, speech, etc. ▪ I liked the story but I didn't really agree with the book's message. ▪ He believed in the church's message of forgiveness. ▪ She hopes the speech will help her to get the party's message across. [=help her to tell people what the party believes or stands for]
get the message
informal : to understand something that is not being said directly ▪ When they didn't return my phone calls, I finally got the message. [=I finally realized that they did not want to talk to me] ▪ He gave her an angry look, hoping she'd get the message.
mixed messages —see mixed
off message
: saying things that do not agree with the official position of a political group or party ▪ A few Cabinet members seem off message on government policy.
on message
: saying things that agree with the official position of a political group or party ▪ The President wants everyone to be/get back on message when giving interviews.