example

noun

ex·am·ple | \ig-ˈzam-pəl

Definition of example

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated a good example

2 : a punishment inflicted on someone as a warning to others also : an individual so punished

3 : one that is representative of all of a group or type

4 : a parallel or closely similar case especially when serving as a precedent or model

5 : an instance (such as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of a rule

for example \ fər-ig-ˈzam-pəl ,

frig- \

: as an example there are many sources of air pollution; exhaust fumes, for example

example

verb

exampled; exampling\ ig-ˈzam-p(ə-)liŋ

Definition of example (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to serve as an example of

2 archaic : to be or set an example to

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Choose the Right Synonym for example

Noun

instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category. instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain. an instance of history repeating itself case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with. a case of mistaken identity illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement. a telling illustration of Murphy's Law example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case. a typical example of bureaucratic waste sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities. show us a sample of your work specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available. one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

model, example, pattern, exemplar, ideal mean someone or something set before one for guidance or imitation. model applies to something taken or proposed as worthy of imitation. a decor that is a model of good taste example applies to a person to be imitated or in some contexts on no account to be imitated but to be regarded as a warning. children tend to follow the example of their parents pattern suggests a clear and detailed archetype or prototype. American industry set a pattern for others to follow exemplar suggests either a faultless example to be emulated or a perfect typification. cited Joan of Arc as the exemplar of courage ideal implies the best possible exemplification either in reality or in conception. never found a job that matched his ideal

Examples of example in a Sentence

Noun

He set a good example for the rest of us. She gave several examples to show that the program is effective. We've chosen three examples of contemporary architecture for closer study. a classic example of a Persian rug a fine example of the artist's work The dictionary includes thousands of examples.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Wei-Yin Chen’s six-inning, one-run outing on Friday was the most recent example of a Marlins pitcher enjoying success in Miami. — Mike Persak, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Marlins pitchers downplay effect of Marlins Park on better home splits," 14 July 2018 The dueling views of the bill's potential impact are the latest example of how immigration looms as a vote-moving issue this fall, when Democrats hope to wrest control of the House and perhaps the Senate from the GOP. — CBS News, "Push by liberal Democrats’ to abolish ICE delights GOP," 13 July 2018 Thursday’s city commission meeting was the latest example. — Jordan Mcpherson, miamiherald, "David Beckham’s saw first-hand the mixed emotions about his proposed Miami MLS plan," 12 July 2018 Also, people have seen our success — the Comey rollout is the most visible example. — Marisa Guthrie, The Hollywood Reporter, "James Comey's Book Agents on "Toxic" Trump Memoirs and Bill Clinton's #MeToo Fail," 12 July 2018 Fed chairs have traditionally done such on-the-record interviews only sparingly, and Thursday’s appearance offers the latest example of Mr. Powell’s desire to demystify what the central bank is doing and why. — Nick Timiraos, WSJ, "Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says Trade Policies Complicate Economic Outlook," 12 July 2018 In the latest example, an arm of Brookfield Asset Management is close to completing an investment of up to $700 million in the Kushner family’s tower at 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. — Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Senate rebuke of Trump tariffs won't actually change anything," 12 July 2018 The movie was shot mainly in Vancouver, Canada, and its frequent cutaways to the Hong Kong skyline are hardly the sole example of blatant visual trickery at work. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Dwayne Johnson scales the heights in the thrillingly dumb 'Skyscraper'," 11 July 2018 The Japanese drug maker Otsuka Pharmaceutical has signed a deal to buy Waltham, Mass.-based Visterra for $430 million, the latest example of a foreign pharmaceutical company establishing a presence in the white-hot Massachusetts biotech cluster. — Jonathan Saltzman — Boston Globe, STAT, "Otsuka Pharma signs $430m deal to buy Visterra and its antibody therapies," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'example.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.