Word
expressing
Phoneticsex·press·ing
US/ɪksˈpɹɛsɪŋ/
UK/ɛkspɹˈɛsɪŋ/
Definitions
01showing feelings or ideas
v. showing what you think or feel using words, art, or your face.
v. the act of communicating a thought, feeling, or idea through verbal or non-verbal means.
“She had trouble expressing her anger in a healthy way.”
“Expressing complex philosophical ideas in simple language is a skill that many academics struggle to master during their early careers.”
Usage
Often followed by a noun phrase or a 'that' clause.
Teaching tip
Remind students that this is the '-ing' form of 'express'; it can be a continuous verb or a gerund (noun).
Antonyms
02biology/genetics
adj. describing a gene that is active and doing its job in the body.
adj. relating to the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product.
“The scientists studied the expressing genes to see how the medicine worked.”
“The research team identified several expressing sequences that appeared to correlate with the plant's increased resistance to drought conditions.”
Technical
Usage
Used as an attributive adjective before a noun like 'gene' or 'cell'.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized sense used in genetics; general learners will likely never encounter it outside of academic science.
Synonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/expressing