export

1 of 3

verb

ex·​port ek-ˈspȯrt  ˈek-ˌspȯrt 

exported; exporting; exports

transitive verb

1

: to carry away : remove

2

: to carry or send (something, such as a commodity) to some other place (such as another country)

intransitive verb

: to export something abroad

exportability

(ˌ)ek-ˌspȯr-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

exportable

ek-ˈspȯr-tə-bəl  ˈek-ˌspȯr- 

adjective

export

2 of 3

noun

ex·​port ˈek-ˌspȯrt 

1

: something exported

specifically : a commodity conveyed from one country or region to another for purposes of trade

2

: the act of exporting : exportation

the export of wheat

export

3 of 3

adjective

ex·​port ˈek-ˌspȯrt 

: of or relating to exportation or exports

export duties

Examples of export in a Sentence

Verb

countries that export oil to the U.S.

Noun

Exports to China have risen this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Professionals in Mexico’s arts community had protested the initially vague plans to export the collection of 160 artworks, seemingly for an indefinite period of time, to the Santander bank’s new cultural center, the Faro Santander. —Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026

Trump could deploy them to seize Kharg Island, from which 90% of Iran’s oil is exported, or other small islands near the Strait of Hormuz to weaken Iran’s grip on the narrow waterway that’s critical to the global oil trade. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026

Noun

Trump has also reportedly weighed the option of sending in ground forces to seize Kharg Island, a major fuel hub that facilitates 90% of Iran’s crude exports. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026

Kharg Island is about 33 kilometers (21 miles) off Iran’s coast and is the primary terminal through which nearly all of the country’s oil exports pass. —ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin exportare, from ex- + portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1690, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing export

• re-export

Kids Definition

export

1 of 2 verb

ex·​port ek-ˈspō(ə)rt  -ˈspȯ(ə)rt 

ˈek-ˌspō(ə)rt, 

ˈek-ˌspȯ(ə)rt

: to carry or send abroad especially for sale in another country

exportable

-ˈspōrt-ə-bəl  -ˈspȯrt- 

adjective

exportation

ˌek-ˌspōr-ˈtā-shən, 

-ˌspȯr-, 

-spər-

noun

exporter

ek-ˈspōrt-ər, 

-ˈspōrt-, 

ˈek-ˌ

noun

export

2 of 2 noun

ex·​port ˈek-ˌspō(ə)rt 

-ˌspȯ(ə)rt

1

: something that is exported

2

: an act of exporting

export adjective

Legal Definition

export

transitive verb

ex·​port ek-ˈspōrt, ˈek-ˌspōrt 

: to carry or send (as a commodity) to some other place (as another country)

intransitive verb

: to send something abroad

export

ˈek-ˌspōrt 

noun

exportability

ek-ˌspōr-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

exportable

ek-ˈspōr-tə-bəl 

adjective