display

1 of 2

verb

dis·​play di-ˈsplā 

displayed; displaying; displays

transitive verb

1

a

: to place or spread (something) for people to see

The gallery displays the work of local artists.

It also comes with a wooden wall mount so you can proudly display it in your living room.

—Nathan Donkor

If the system displays an error message, you may need to adjust your settings …

—Andy Wolber

also : to serve as a place for displaying (something)

… a … shop window displaying shimmering silk scarves …

—Ute Junker

As the robot worked, a screen displayed its progress.

—Dominic Rushe

b

: to make (an emotion, quality, skill, etc.) evident

displayed great skill

displayed an interest in music

She displayed no emotion upon hearing the news.

c

: to exhibit conspicuously and usually in an ostentatious manner

displayed their wealth

He liked to display his extensive knowledge of Greek mythology.

2

obsolete : descry

intransitive verb

1

: to make a breeding (see breeding sense 4) display

During the mating season king penguins displayed with potential partners: closing their eyes, stretching their heads skyward and moving them in a half-circle to "take peeks" at one another.

—Ella Davies

2

: to be visible or make something visible (as on the screen of a digital device)

… a rearview camera that displays on the navigation screen when he backs up …

—Anita Hamilton

This system would allow the computer to display on the television for multimedia presentations …

—Kellie B. Gormly

3

obsolete : show off

displayable

di-ˈsplā-ə-bəl 

adjective

displayable images

display

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

1

a(1)

: a setting or presentation of something in open view

a fireworks display

(2)

: a clear sign or evidence : exhibition

a display of courage

b

: ostentatious show

worldly display

c

: an eye-catching arrangement by which something is exhibited

a display of artifacts

merchandise in a window display

—often used with on

her early paintings are currently on display

d

: an electronic device (such as a LCD) or part of a device (such as the screen of a tablet) that presents information in visual form

a temperature display

also : the visual information presented

e

: type (see type entry 1 sense 2), composition, or printing designed to catch the eye

2

zoology : a pattern of behavior exhibited especially by male birds in the breeding season

Synonyms

Verb

• disport
• exhibit
• expose
• flash
• flaunt
• lay out
• parade
• produce
• show
• show off
• sport
• strut
• unveil

Noun

• exhibit
• exhibition
• expo
• exposition
• fair
• show

Choose the Right Synonym for display

show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention.

show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine.

showed her snapshots to the whole group

exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly.

exhibit paintings at a gallery

display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage.

display sale items

expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying.

sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers

parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying.

parading their piety for all to see

flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading.

nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth

Examples of display in a Sentence

Verb

Students displayed their projects at the science fair.

Toys were displayed in the store window.

Her awards are prominently displayed on the mantel.

The museum displays relics found during the excavation of the site.

He displayed no emotion when I told him the news.

I was impressed by the care she displayed in making the flower arrangements.

The rookie player displayed great skill.

The company has displayed exceptional dedication to this community.

Noun

The library's current display features locally made crafts.

Her trophies are in a display case.

The celebration ended with a spectacular fireworks display.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The museum’s Vietnam Gallery displays Mills’ uniform, flight helmet and medals. —Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025

The soon-to-be 23-year-old displayed impressive contact balance and routinely churned out additional yards after being hit, but his workload in college (879 carries in five years) raises questions about his long-term outlook in the NFL. 191. —James Boyd, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Noun

This follows years where the display wasn’t allowed by the National Park Service under then-President Joe Biden. —Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2025

From there — after ambling into the box — his abilities were on full display. —Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English desplaien, displaien, displeien "to unfurl (a banner), spread (the arms), reveal, expound," borrowed from Anglo-French despleier, desplaier, desploier, deplaier "to unfurl, set out to view, reveal, expound" (continental Old French desploier), probably from des- dis- + pleier, ploier "to fold, bend" — more at ply entry 3

Note: Compare deploy. Older references see this verb as an outcome of Latin displicāre, attested in the classical corpus only in Varro's Res rusticae, where it appears to mean "scatter, disperse." In Late Latin, the verb appears once in the sense "explain, expound" in the sermons of Gregory the Great on the book of Ezekiel. Apparent cognates outside Gallo-Romance are probably of secondary origin: Italian dispiegare "to spread out, deploy" may be a derivative of spiegare "to unfold, explain," perhaps modeled on Old French desploier (spiegare itself and synonymous Engadine Romansh splajer are from Latin explicāre—see explicate); and Spanish desplegar "to spread, open out" appears to be a learned formation.

Noun

derivative of display entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing display

• caller display
• go on display
• heads-up display
• liquid crystal display
• on display
• self-display
• window display

Rhymes for display

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

display

1 of 2 verb

dis·​play dis-ˈplā 

1

: to put in plain view

display the flag

the results displayed on a computer screen

display toys in a store window

2

: to make clear the existence or presence of : make a display of

display anger

display

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a showing of something

b

: an electronic device (as a cathode-ray tube in a computer or radar receiver) that gives information in visual form

also : the visual information

2

: overdone or unnecessary show

3

: an attractive exhibition