display

1 of 2

verb

dis·​play di-ˈsplā How to pronounce display (audio)
displayed; displaying; displays

transitive verb

1
a
: to place or spread (something) for people to see
The gallery displays the work of local artists.
It also comes with a wooden wall mount so you can proudly display it in your living room.Nathan Donkor
If the system displays an error message, you may need to adjust your settings …Andy Wolber
also : to serve as a place for displaying (something)
… a … shop window displaying shimmering silk scarves … Ute Junker
As the robot worked, a screen displayed its progress. Dominic Rushe
b
: to make (an emotion, quality, skill, etc.) evident
displayed great skill
displayed an interest in music
She displayed no emotion upon hearing the news.
c
: to exhibit conspicuously and usually in an ostentatious manner
displayed their wealth
He liked to display his extensive knowledge of Greek mythology.
2
obsolete : descry

intransitive verb

1
: to make a breeding (see breeding sense 4) display
During the mating season king penguins displayed with potential partners: closing their eyes, stretching their heads skyward and moving them in a half-circle to "take peeks" at one another.Ella Davies
2
: to be visible or make something visible (as on the screen of a digital device)
… a rearview camera that displays on the navigation screen when he backs up …Anita Hamilton
This system would allow the computer to display on the television for multimedia presentations …Kellie B. Gormly
3
obsolete : show off
displayable adjective
displayable images

display

2 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
a(1)
: a setting or presentation of something in open view
a fireworks display
(2)
: a clear sign or evidence : exhibition
a display of courage
b
: ostentatious show
worldly display
c
: an eye-catching arrangement by which something is exhibited
a display of artifacts
merchandise in a window display
often used with on
her early paintings are currently on display
d
: an electronic device (such as a LCD) or part of a device (such as the screen of a tablet) that presents information in visual form
a temperature display
also : the visual information presented
e
: type (see type entry 1 sense 2), composition, or printing designed to catch the eye
2
zoology : a pattern of behavior exhibited especially by male birds in the breeding season
Choose the Right Synonym for display

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 display in a Sentence

Verb Students displayed their projects at the science fair. Toys were displayed in the store window. Her awards are prominently displayed on the mantel. The museum displays relics found during the excavation of the site. He displayed no emotion when I told him the news. I was impressed by the care she displayed in making the flower arrangements. The rookie player displayed great skill. The company has displayed exceptional dedication to this community. Noun The library's current display features locally made crafts. Her trophies are in a display case. The celebration ended with a spectacular fireworks display.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Highlights include a stylish living room displaying an oversized wood-burning brick fireplace with a floating hearth, plus sliding glass doors spilling out to a fenced wraparound deck overlooking the Pacific. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 His work has been featured in museum collections and displayed throughout the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 The Tennessee state House advanced HB 1605 to the state Senate Thursday, an amendment to the Tennessee Code that sets out which flags can be displayed in schools. Chandelis Duster, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 Attestation responses are displayed in the department's online school report cards, which detail academic performance, enrollment demographics and other information parents might seek about a school. Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 By displaying the painting, the National Trust also aims to pay tribute to the Detmold twins, who added depth and life to the story with their illustrations. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 The newfound willingness to display widening differences with the Netanyahu government’s conduct of the war continued Monday, when Ms. Harris received Israeli wartime Cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024 Museum directors across the state are scrambling to comply with a new federal rule that requires permission from tribal nations before displaying certain affiliated artifacts. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Last year, a Texas bill that would have required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom failed in the state House after passing the state Senate. The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
On TikTok users are posting scenes from inside the grocery stores, where throngs of shoppers rush displays to get their hands on one of the petite bags. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 8 Mar. 2024 Kelly covered up his collection of tattoos with a black wetsuit, while Fox had her new sleeve tattoo on full display. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Spanning 1,904 square miles, the Grand Canyon is one of the most stunning displays of erosion found anywhere on Earth. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, the Google Flights button on the search result display will be removed and the site will be listed among the blue links on search result pages. Kelvin Chan, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024 Trending on Billboard Though the ASA walked back the total embargo, it remains banned from display in places where children might see it. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 The Light Up Magic Ball uses light-emitting diodes (LED) to create its kaleidoscope-like display, which may have a calming effect on an autistic child. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 As much as Arsenal should be credited for a ruthless display, Sheffield United offered very little opposition in an awful performance, managing just over 19% of the possession. Ben Church, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 That balancing act was on public display after a post about the substance was inspected repeatedly by the company's content review bureaucracy. Darius Tahir, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'display.' 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 desplaien, displaien, displeien "to unfurl (a banner), spread (the arms), reveal, expound," borrowed from Anglo-French despleier, desplaier, desploier, deplaier "to unfurl, set out to view, reveal, expound" (continental Old French desploier), probably from des- dis- + pleier, ploier "to fold, bend" — more at ply entry 3

Note: Compare deploy. Older references see this verb as an outcome of Latin displicāre, attested in the classical corpus only in Varro's Res rusticae, where it appears to mean "scatter, disperse." In Late Latin, the verb appears once in the sense "explain, expound" in the sermons of Gregory the Great on the book of Ezekiel. Apparent cognates outside Gallo-Romance are probably of secondary origin: Italian dispiegare "to spread out, deploy" may be a derivative of spiegare "to unfold, explain," perhaps modeled on Old French desploier (spiegare itself and synonymous Engadine Romansh splajer are from Latin explicāre—see explicate); and Spanish desplegar "to spread, open out" appears to be a learned formation.

Noun

derivative of display entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of display was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near display

Cite this Entry

“Display.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/display. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

display

1 of 2 verb
dis·​play dis-ˈplā How to pronounce display (audio)
1
: to put in plain view
display the flag
the results displayed on a computer screen
display toys in a store window
2
: to make clear the existence or presence of : make a display of
display anger

display

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a showing of something
b
: an electronic device (as a cathode-ray tube in a computer or radar receiver) that gives information in visual form
also : the visual information
2
: overdone or unnecessary show
3
: an attractive exhibition

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