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
And, like the humble octopi, Crone exhibits an impressive level of fearlessness in her approach to risk. Spin Contributor, SPIN, 11 Mar. 2024 His latest installation for Miami Art Week won’t be found in a gallery or exhibit space. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 The show is sure to feature more of Chip’s expert construction and goofy jokes, along with Joanna’s always-inspirational design and enduring patience for Chip’s aforementioned humor (as exhibited in the trailer). Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 In fact, Tomic plans to exhibit local photography and have guest speakers and PowerPoint presentations on fine art. Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 Editor’s picks Quality Content: Brands gravitate towards athletes and creators who exhibit quality and creativity in their quality. King Holder, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2024 Moreover, when surveyed, Millennials exhibit an even higher propensity to switch at a rate of 91%. Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 There is also a new award this year, named the Savoir-Faire prize, that will grant €200,000 and a year’s mentoring program to a designer exhibiting exceptional craftsmanship, technical expertise, or sustainability practice. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024 Birds Many bird species also exhibit tidying up, clearing areas around their nests for visibility and landing purposes, Ha says. Matt Benoit, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Monkeys definitely lived near Monkey Island in Oshkosh In the mid-20th century, Menominee Park was home to a monkey exhibit that was part of the Menominee Park Zoo. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 Clothes have been plucked from her wardrobe for museum exhibits, and then plucked from museum exhibits for red carpet events. Leah Dolan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 This art-as-activism exhibit features local artists and the need for publicly accessible restrooms. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 10 Mar. 2024 Some exhibits feature Braille, tactile displays and immersive sounds intended for blind and low-vision visitors as well as sighted ones. Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 This exhibit aims to help correct that history by highlighting their achievements. Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024 That’s me above the exhibit hall where IEEE has a booth in Hall 6. Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 For this exhibit, Lanzilotti (a finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in music) has developed a series of videos offering insight into the sonic elements of Takaezu’s work — and visitors can hear those rattles firsthand via an interactive display. John Wogan Juliet Izon Gisela Williams Lindsey Tramuta Julia Halperin Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Last summer, the pair watched the Royal Ascot with King Charles and Queen Camilla from the Royal Box and stepped out again for a Chanel exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 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 19 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

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