ex·te·ri·or
ek-ˈstir-ē-ər 
1
: being on an outside surface : situated on the outside
2
: observable by outward signs
his exterior quietness is belied by an occasional nervous twitch—
Current Biography
Current Biography3
: suitable for use on outside surfaces
exteriorly
adverb
1
a
: an exterior part or surface : outside
b
: outward manner or appearance
2
: a representation (as on stage or film) of an outdoor scene
also
: a scene filmed outdoors
Synonyms
Examples of exterior in a Sentence
Adjective
the house's exterior walls badly need to be painted
Noun
The building has a rather plain exterior.
the exterior of the tooth consists of very hard enamel
Recent Examples on the WebLennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The exterior zipper can also get a little sticky occasionally.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
That district status would require the property owners to obtain preservation commission approval for any exterior changes.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
The exterior zip pockets allow for quick and easy access to your essentials while in line at the airport or a local eatery.
—Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
Choosing an exterior paint color that complements your home's style and matches your personality is key.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2024
The exterior look is classic BMW, an all-around, sturdy-looking design.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Other exterior highlights include a sprawling sundeck adorned with sunbeds and an expandable beach club with direct ocean access.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
On his Instagram, Pardo announced the ways in which the city was helping to mitigate Afterlife’s noise levels for the final night; e.g., lowering the bass and shutting down some exterior speakers.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024
Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
The pressure and friction on a spacecraft can heat up the exterior to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,649 degrees Celsius).
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The sleek exterior suffered no damage during our ladder drop test.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
But Rush said the happy exterior hid a deep well of pain and struggles with mental health.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
And there’s an outdoor unit, which from the exterior looks like a big box with a fan.
—Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Apr. 2024
Black and White Black exterior trim on a white house emphasizes architectural features for a more modern look.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2024
The exterior is aluminum, which gives it a high-end feel, and the minimal style fits right into the same vein as an Apple MacBook Air or similar ultraportable.
—PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024
In a state capital known for its inefficiency and inability to meet deadlines, the staircase and the Capitol’s exterior are visual reminders of Albany’s tendency toward disrepair and dysfunction.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Once the home was structurally sound, it was given a complete interior and exterior paint job.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The exterior zipper can also get a little sticky occasionally.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
That district status would require the property owners to obtain preservation commission approval for any exterior changes.
—Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
The exterior zip pockets allow for quick and easy access to your essentials while in line at the airport or a local eatery.
—Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
Choosing an exterior paint color that complements your home's style and matches your personality is key.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2024
The exterior look is classic BMW, an all-around, sturdy-looking design.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Other exterior highlights include a sprawling sundeck adorned with sunbeds and an expandable beach club with direct ocean access.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
On his Instagram, Pardo announced the ways in which the city was helping to mitigate Afterlife’s noise levels for the final night; e.g., lowering the bass and shutting down some exterior speakers.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024
Noun
The new 400-foot Kismet also enjoys interiors by the British design studio in partnership with Khan’s family, while the exterior is by Nuvolari Lenard.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
The pressure and friction on a spacecraft can heat up the exterior to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,649 degrees Celsius).
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The sleek exterior suffered no damage during our ladder drop test.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
But Rush said the happy exterior hid a deep well of pain and struggles with mental health.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
And there’s an outdoor unit, which from the exterior looks like a big box with a fan.
—Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Apr. 2024
Black and White Black exterior trim on a white house emphasizes architectural features for a more modern look.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2024
The exterior is aluminum, which gives it a high-end feel, and the minimal style fits right into the same vein as an Apple MacBook Air or similar ultraportable.
—PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024
In a state capital known for its inefficiency and inability to meet deadlines, the staircase and the Capitol’s exterior are visual reminders of Albany’s tendency toward disrepair and dysfunction.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exterior.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near exterior
Cite this Entry
“Exterior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exterior. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exterior
1 of 2 adjective
ex·te·ri·or
ek-ˈstir-ē-ər
1
: situated on the outside
3
: suitable for use on outside surfaces
exterior paint
exteriorly
adverb
exterior
2 of 2 noun1
: an exterior part or surface : outside
2
: visible manner or appearance
a calm exterior
Medical Definition
exterior
adjective
ex·te·ri·or
ek-ˈstir-ē-ər
: being on an outside surface : situated on the outside
exteriorly
adverb
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