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

How to pronounce fər-ig-ˈzam-pəl (audio)

, 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

One example, executives said, is how Adobe Photoshop has continually grown smarter and smarter at identifying the subject of a photo and then allowing it to be automatically migrated to another background, through AI-powered recognition. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "How the Intel Ice Lake processor's new AI powers will improve your PC," 27 May 2019 Those names might not sound familiar, but Shane, for example, has worked with country music crooners including: Kacey Musgraves and Sam Hunt, while Ryan Tedder fronts OneRepublic. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "Everything You Need to Know About 'Songland,' the Newest Singing Competition on NBC," 27 May 2019 We are taught that diabetics should avoid carbs and cardiac patients should avoid red meat and salt—but the role of dietary triggers of inflammation, for example, is not something that is explicitly taught in medical school. — Lisa Fogarty, Harper's BAZAAR, "Biotin Is in Every Hair Growth Pill. But Does it Even Work?," 22 May 2019 For example, levels of the main female hormone estradiol drop significantly after menopause, which directly affects the way women carry fat, Dr. Kapoor says. — Jo Yurcaba, Woman's Day, "Why Menopause Causes Weight Gain and Why You Shouldn't Worry," 21 May 2019 Already the University of California Los Angeles is planning to use an example to service surgical equipment from its medical center. — Blake Z. Rong, Popular Mechanics, "RVs Are More Efficient Than Ever, Thanks to Eco-Friendly Manufacturing," 15 May 2019 Sometimes spin-offs can be just as successful as the original show, like NCIS: New Orleans, for example, which just got renewed for its sixth season. — Jennifer Aldrich, Country Living, "We Finally Know If 'NCIS: New Orleans' Will Return for Season 6," 14 May 2019 For example, at 10.1 pounds per horsepower, the Supra outaccelerates the Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE, which has 120 more horsepower, each of which is only taxed with 8.2 pounds. — Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, "We Test the 2020 Toyota Supra: Zero to 60 in 3.8 Seconds," 14 May 2019 Valerian Rybar and Jean-Francois Daigre’s mirrored sitting room at their Parisian townhouse on the rue du Bac is an excellent example of camp. — Ingrid Abramovitch, ELLE Decor, "Behold the Campiest Rooms of All Time," 7 May 2019

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.