exhibit

1 of 2

verb

ex·​hib·​it ig-ˈzi-bət 

exhibited; exhibiting; exhibits

transitive verb

1

: to submit (something, such as a document) to a court or officer in course of proceedings

also : to present or offer officially or in legal form

2

: to present to view: such as

a

: to show or display outwardly especially by visible signs or actions

exhibited no fear

b

: to have as a readily discernible quality or feature

in all cultures we know, men exhibit an aesthetic sense

—H. J. Muller

c

: to show publicly especially for purposes of competition or demonstration

exhibit a collection of artifacts

intransitive verb

: to display something for public inspection

exhibitive

ig-ˈzi-bə-tiv 

adjective

exhibitor

ig-ˈzi-bə-tər 

noun

exhibitory

ig-ˈzi-bə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

exhibit

2 of 2

noun

1

: a document or material object produced and identified in court or before an examiner for use as evidence

2

: something exhibited

3

: an act or instance of exhibiting : exhibition

Synonyms

Verb

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

Noun

• display
• exhibition
• expo
• exposition
• fair
• show

Choose the Right Synonym for exhibit

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 exhibit in a Sentence

Verb

They will be exhibiting a collection of paintings.

He proudly exhibited his trophy.

He first exhibited an interest in music when he was very young.

The patient exhibited signs of the disease.

Noun

The show includes dozens of interesting exhibits.

Have you seen the new photography exhibit?

introduced the weapons into evidence as exhibits A and B

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Her drawings, photos and conceptual art pieces were exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. —Chloe Veltman, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024

This is the first episode in which Good Times exhibits some clear ideas, though the actual attempts at humor fall flat. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024

Coppola published two books, Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now and Notes on a Life, and her drawings, photos, and conceptual art pieces have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024

California cities already have more than 800 laws on their books criminalizing behaviors typically exhibited by unhoused people, such as sitting, resting or sleeping in public, or panhandling, according to the Western Regional Advocacy Project. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

In Parks’s depiction, the woman who was exhibited like a zoo animal and exploited is not simply a victim but a woman in search of intimacy and a sense of self. —Imani Perry Janina Edwards Krish Seenivasan Devin Murphy, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

The report found the boy began exhibiting troubling behaviors again. —Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

The shows were a way for Rice to highlight Black artists looking for a space in the Crossroads to exhibit their work. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

Double-sided portraits face similar challenges, as exhibiting both sides simultaneously in a traditional gallery setting usually isn’t feasible. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Noun

The multi-faceted exhibit, launched by the Naomi Judd estate in collaboration with Definitive Authentic and Mercy Community Healthcare, will feature rare and never-before-seen artifacts. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024

The gala also marks the launch of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibit, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, which opens to the public on May 10. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024

The 11-month murder trial lasted into 1995, with over 100 exhibits of DNA evidence from the crime scene introduced as potential links to Simpson's involvement. —EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024

On loan from the Ambassador and Mrs. George L. Argyros Collection of Presidential Art at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the exhibit features portraits of veterans painted by Bush. —Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024

The exhibit features some 700 artifacts from the Nazis’ largest concentration camp. —Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024

How the Mote aquarium is coming together in Florida As of March, those 1 million gallons are one step closer to becoming a reality, as teams at Mote finished installing all exhibit acrylic panels and filled the habitats with water to test for any potential leaks. —Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024

Watchdog Union-Tribune, CBS 8 seek to intervene in Serna case in effort to unseal jail-death records, exhibits April 3, 2024 The Union-Tribune and CBS 8 sought to intervene in the case earlier this week on the grounds that the material should be included in the public record. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

Space exhibits, immersive art installations, and guest speakers will also be part of the long weekend’s activities. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin exhibitus, past participle of exhibēre, from ex- + habēre to have, hold — more at give

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing exhibit

• on exhibit

Kids Definition

exhibit

1 of 2 verb

ex·​hib·​it ig-ˈzib-ət 

1

: to show by outward signs : reveal

exhibit an interest in music

2

: to put on display

exhibit a collection of paintings

exhibitor

-ət-ər 

noun

exhibit

2 of 2 noun

1

: an article or a collection shown in an exhibition

2

: an article presented as evidence in a court of law

Legal Definition

exhibit

1 of 2 transitive verb

ex·​hib·​it

1

: to submit (as a document) to a court or officer in the course of proceedings

also : to present or offer officially or in legal form

2

: to present to view or display outwardly

exhibitor noun

exhibit

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a document or object produced and identified in court as evidence

b

: a document labeled with an identifying mark (as a number or letter) and appended to a writing (as a brief) to which it is relevant

2

: something exhibited

3

: an act or instance of exhibiting