# addressed

/əˈdɹɛst/ (US) · /ɐdɹˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/addressed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. dealt with a problem

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to have dealt with or thought about a difficult situation.

For teachers: to have directed one's attention or efforts towards a specific problem or task. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The manager addressed the staff's concerns about the new schedule during the meeting.
- The report specifically addressed the systemic failures that led to the budget deficit, proposing several structural reforms.

Usage: Often used in professional or academic contexts to describe problem-solving.

### 2. spoke to an audience

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to have spoken to a person or a group of people in a formal way.

For teachers: to have delivered a formal speech or directed a communication to a specific recipient.

- The president addressed the nation on television last night.
- The keynote speaker addressed the assembly, focusing on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in modern medicine.

### 3. wrote a destination

verb · CEFR B1

to have written a name and address on an envelope or package.

For teachers: to have inscribed a destination or recipient's details on a piece of mail.

- She addressed the envelope and put a stamp in the corner.
- The package was clearly addressed to the main office, yet it was mistakenly delivered to the warehouse down the street.

### 4. marked with an address

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a letter or package that has a destination written on it.

For teachers: bearing a specific destination or recipient's name; often used in the phrase 'self-addressed'.

- Please send your application in a stamped, addressed envelope.
- The detective found an addressed but unposted letter lying on the hallway floor near the entrance.

## Examples

- The manager addressed the concerns of the staff during the meeting.
- The new law is designed to ensure that the housing shortage is addressed by the local government immediately.
- In her keynote speech, the scientist addressed the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, urging the committee to establish clear guidelines before the technology advances further.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
