massage
gb/məsˈɑʒ/ us/məsˈɑʒ/
A2
English
~ 4100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
action
1
Therapeutic rubbing of muscles
When someone rubs and presses your body to help you relax or feel better.
Usage pattern:
to give [someone] a massage
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'massage' with 'message' due to similar pronunciation; they have very different meanings.
Synonyms
bodywork (A broader term for various physical therapies involving touch, including massage.)
Antonyms
immobility (The state of not moving or stimulating muscles, opposite to the active manipulation of massage.)
Collocations
full-body massage
|back massage
|shoulder massage
|professional massage
|therapeutic massage
Themes
health
|wellness
|daily life
|body
|daily_life
Examples
- I booked a deep tissue massage to ease my back pain.
- She gave him a gentle shoulder massage after his workout.
- A good massage can help reduce stress and improve sleep.
- The spa offers a variety of massage techniques.
- He received a massage from a licensed therapist.
Learner examples
- I had a massage at the spa.
- She gave me a back massage.
- A massage can help you relax.
- He wants a massage after work.
Verb
A2
action
2
To rub and press muscles
To rub and press someone's body to help them relax or feel better.
Usage pattern:
to massage [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly use 'massage' reflexively ('I massaged myself') when they mean they received a massage from another person; both are possible but have different implications.
Synonyms
knead (Similar action involving pressing and squeezing, often used for dough but also for muscles.)
Antonyms
neglect (To fail to care for or attend to muscles or body comfort.)
Collocations
massage the shoulders
|massage tired feet
|massage gently
|massage oil
Themes
health
|wellness
|daily life
|body
|daily_life
Examples
- She massaged his neck until the stiffness went away.
- The therapist massaged my back with warm oil.
- He massaged her hands to help with the cold.
- I massaged my temples to relieve the headache.
Learner examples
- She massaged my shoulders.
- He massaged my feet after I walked a lot.
- I massaged my head because I had pain.
- The nurse massaged his arm.
Verb
informal
B2
action
3
Alter information for effect
To change numbers or information to make them look better than they really are.
Usage pattern:
to massage [figures/data/results]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this figurative use with physical massage; context usually makes the meaning clear.
Synonyms
falsify (Implies deliberate dishonesty in changing facts.)
Antonyms
verify (To check that information is correct rather than changing it.)
Collocations
massage the figures
|massage the data
|massage statistics
Themes
business
|media
|politics
|communication
|work
Examples
- The company was accused of massaging its sales figures.
- He massaged the data to make the project seem more successful.
- They denied that they had massaged the statistics before publishing.
Learner examples
- The boss massaged the numbers.
- He massaged the report to look better.
- They massaged the data before the meeting.
Grammar
Dictionary form
massage
IPA
GB/məsˈɑʒ/
US/məsˈɑʒ/
Syllables & stress
mas - sage (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sage)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: massage
- Plural: massage, massages
Verb
- Base: massage
- 3rd Person Singular: massages
- Present Participle: massaging
- Past: massaged
Word family
Forms
massages
noun
massaging
verb
massaged
verb
Related words
Expressions
give someone a massage
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə məsˈɑʒ/
fixed phrase
Perform a massage on someone
To rub and press someone's body to help them relax or feel better.
Examples
- She gave me a massage after my workout.
- He gave her a massage to help her relax.
massage into [something]
1/məsˈɑʒ ˈɪntu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Rub substance into surface
To rub something like cream or oil into skin or another surface until it goes in.
Examples
- Massage the lotion into your skin until fully absorbed.
- She massaged oil into her hair.
massage the figures
1/məsˈɑʒ ðə fˈɪɡjɚz/
fixed phrase
informal
Alter numbers for effect
To change numbers so they look better than they really are.
Examples
- The accountant was told to massage the figures before presenting them.
- They massaged the figures to hide the loss.