messenger
gb/mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/ us/mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/
A2
English
~ 3500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Person who delivers messages
A person who takes a message or package from one person to another.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a messenger
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'messenger' with 'message'. 'Messenger' is the person; 'message' is the information being sent.
Synonyms
courier (Often used for someone delivering packages or documents, sometimes professionally.)
Antonyms
recipient (The person receiving the message rather than delivering it.)
Collocations
bike messenger
|royal messenger
|trusted messenger
|official messenger
Themes
communication
|work
|daily life
Examples
- The messenger arrived with an urgent letter from the embassy.
- A bike messenger sped through the city streets to make the delivery on time.
- She acted as a messenger between the two departments during the meeting.
- The royal messenger wore a distinctive uniform.
- He worked as a messenger for a legal firm.
Learner examples
- The messenger brought me a letter.
- A bike messenger rides fast in the city.
- The messenger took the box to her office.
- He is a messenger for a company.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Messaging software or app
A program on a phone or computer for sending and getting messages quickly.
Usage pattern:
[someone] uses [a] messenger
Synonyms
chat app (Informal term for the same type of software, focusing on casual conversation.)
Antonyms
email client (Email software is for sending messages but is generally slower and not real-time like a messenger.)
Collocations
instant messenger
|Facebook Messenger
|messenger app
Themes
technology
|communication
Examples
- We use an instant messenger at work to stay in touch.
- She sent me the file via Facebook Messenger.
- Many people prefer using a messenger app instead of email for quick questions.
- He downloaded a new secure messenger for private chats.
- The team communicates mostly through an internal messenger platform.
Learner examples
- I use a messenger to talk to my friends.
- We chat on the messenger every day.
- He sent me a photo on the messenger.
- This messenger is free to download.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Animal that carries messages
An animal that takes a message from one place to another.
Synonyms
carrier pigeon (Specifically refers to pigeons used for carrying written messages.)
Collocations
carrier pigeon messenger
|war messenger dog
Themes
communication
|animals
Examples
- During the war, pigeons served as messengers between army units.
- The dog acted as a messenger, carrying supplies and notes across the battlefield.
- Some ancient kingdoms used trained birds as messengers.
- Messenger pigeons were vital before radio communication existed.
Learner examples
- The pigeon was a messenger in the war.
- The dog was a messenger and took food to the soldiers.
- They used birds as messengers in the past.
Noun
B2
entity
4
Sign or bringer of news or change
Something that shows what will happen soon or brings important news.
Synonyms
harbinger (More formal term meaning something that signals what is coming.)
Collocations
messenger of peace
|messenger of change
Themes
communication
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The early flowers are messengers of spring.
- Dark clouds can be messengers of an approaching storm.
- She saw herself as a messenger of hope for the community.
Learner examples
- Dark clouds are messengers of rain.
- The first snow is a messenger of winter.
- He is a messenger of good news.
Grammar
Dictionary form
messenger
IPA
GB/mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/
US/mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/
Syllables & stress
mes - sen - ger (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mes)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: messenger
- Plural: messengers
Word family
Expressions
Facebook Messenger
1/fˈeɪsbˌʊk mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase
Facebook's chat application
A messaging app made by Facebook for sending texts, photos, and videos.
Examples
- She sent me a note on Facebook Messenger.
- We had a long call over Facebook Messenger last night.
instant messenger
1/ˈɪnstənt mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase
Real-time text chat software
A computer program that lets people send and get text messages quickly over the internet.
Examples
- We still use an instant messenger at work for quick questions.
- Instant messengers were very popular in the early 2000s.
shoot the messenger
1/ʃˈut ðə mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/
idiom
informal
Blame bearer of bad news
To get angry with the person who tells you bad news, not the person who caused it.
Examples
- Don't shoot the messenger—I’m just telling you what I heard.
- She shot the messenger when I told her about the budget cuts.
shoot the messenger
2/ʃˈut ðə mˈɛsɪnd͡ʒɚ/
idiom
Blame bearer of bad news
To be angry at the person who tells you bad news, instead of the person or thing that caused it.
Examples
- Don't shoot the messenger—I'm just telling you what happened.
- She shot the messenger when I told her about the budget cuts.