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

For example, according to TCM, your chronic rosacea is probably aligned with other kinds of inflammation in your body, and that specific point on your face can be treated both externally and internally with needling. — Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, "What Exactly Is Facial Acupuncture — And Why You Should Try It," 6 Feb. 2019 The drama, which was unconfirmed by the Palace, yet reported by mainstream media and spread by social media users, became a prime example of how high-profile women in similar positions are often pitted against each other. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Palace Tackles Online Threats and Abuse Towards Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton," 28 Jan. 2019 Friday’s events were a stark example of the shutdown interfering with air operations—something major airline executives warned about Thursday during earnings conference calls. — Andrew Tangel, WSJ, "FAA Briefly Delays Flights at LaGuardia, Other Airports as Shutdown Hits Travel," 26 Jan. 2019 Unlike other thrillers that ultimately reveal their frightening villains after endless teasing (Signs comes to mind as a prime example), Bird Box keeps its audience in the literal dark, save for a handful of demonic drawings in one scene. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Netflix's "Bird Box" Sculptor Reveals a Design for the Film's Unseen Monsters," 6 Jan. 2019 Though Nintendo has regularly flexed its legal muscles on ROM distribution, this is a relatively unique example of wholly abandoned, incomplete software from Nintendo made available for the sake of digital preservation. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "You can now download the long-lost (and unfinished) SimCity NES port," 26 Dec. 2018 Traffic is just a salient example of our shoddy situation. — Smith Henderson, Popular Mechanics, "I Went to the Opening of Elon Musk's First Boring Company Tunnel and Here Is What I Found," 19 Dec. 2018 At Givenchy, Clare Waight Keller gave latex a boost, for example. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "5 Takeaways From Spring 2019 Couture," 26 Jan. 2019 John Paulson, for example, invested inOneWest Bank, the lender rehabilitated by executives that included Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Joseph Otting, acting chief of Fannie and Freddie’s federal regulator. — Andrew Ackerman, WSJ, "Popular Hedge Fund Bet on Fannie and Freddie Is Paying Off Big This Year," 26 Jan. 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.