exhibit

1 of 2

verb

ex·​hib·​it ig-ˈzi-bət How to pronounce exhibit (audio)
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 senseH. 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 adjective
exhibitor noun
exhibitory 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
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
Jameela was born several weeks premature via emergency C-section on Jan. 5 after her mother, Sekani, began exhibiting symptoms of preeclampsia. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2024 In fact, the majority of people who are exposed to trauma do not go on to exhibit the symptoms of PTSD. George Makari, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 Mangroves exhibit a remarkable ability to capture and retain substantial amounts of carbon, up to ten times more than a tropical rainforest. Serge Dedina, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024 Timepieces from the Michael Schumacher collection will be exhibited in Los Angeles (March 20 to 22), Hong Kong (April 4 to 7), Taiwan (April 20 to 21), Dubai (April 27 to 30), New York (early May) and Geneva (May 10 to 12), before the auction at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva on May 13. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024 This is an ability known as vocal learning, and is perhaps most notably exhibited when a parrot mimics a person’s speech (or profanity). Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024 In metal trading, China central bank continued to exhibit robust gold-buying activities amid global geopolitical tensions and haven demand, which further drove up the price of gold. Zimo Zhong, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 Related Articles As the arc moves towards its resolution, the play begins to exhibit the type of urgency that wasn’t on hand earlier. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 Instilling the right values and exhibiting the right behaviors will increasingly become a source of differentiation and competitive advantage. François Candelon, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
From the Marche du Nain Rouge to arts and craft shows, a wood carving exhibit and comedy events, here are five things to do for the weekend of March 22-24. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 21 Mar. 2024 Each meter walked on the timeline trail signifies one million years of Grand Canyon's geologic history, and there are samples of rock and exhibits that explain how the Grand Canyon was formed. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024 From great plays and musicals to eye-opening exhibits and amazing concerts, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend and beyond. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 McQuarrie frequently traveled to Minneapolis during the protests and helped organize the Twin Flames exhibit. Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 Because exhibit space was so limited in La Jolla, the museum’s staff began hosting pop-up exhibits in Downtown San Diego in the mid-1980s. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 The zoo is also considering a larger elephant exhibit in future years to accommodate a larger herd. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024 Friday, March 15 ‘Change Your Game’ at National Museum of American History Student-athletes and budding inventors alike are sure to be fascinated by this family-friendly exhibit coming to the National Museum of American History. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Celebrity authors, family-friendly entertainment, Spanish-language programming, interactive games and exhibits. Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exhibit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhibit was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near exhibit

Cite this Entry

“Exhibit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhibit. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exhibit

1 of 2 verb
ex·​hib·​it ig-ˈzib-ət How to pronounce exhibit (audio)
1
: to show by outward signs : reveal
exhibit an interest in music
2
: to put on display
exhibit a collection of paintings
exhibitor 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

More from Merriam-Webster on exhibit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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