To express means to communicate your thoughts, feelings, or ideas to others. When you express yourself, you're making what's inside your mind visible or understandable to the outside world. You might express excitement by jumping up and down, express gratitude by saying “thank you,” or express your creativity through a painting or story.

The word works in many contexts. A writer expresses ideas through carefully chosen words. A musician expresses emotion through melody and rhythm. In math class, you might express a fraction as a decimal, turning one form into another that means the same thing.

Some people express themselves easily with words, while others express themselves better through art, music, or actions. When you express confusion during a lesson, your teacher knows to explain more carefully. When you express appreciation for a friend's help, they know their effort mattered.