exterior

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​te·​ri·​or ek-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce exterior (audio)
1
: being on an outside surface : situated on the outside
2
: observable by outward signs
his exterior quietness is belied by an occasional nervous twitchCurrent Biography
3
: suitable for use on outside surfaces
exteriorly adverb

exterior

2 of 2

noun

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

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 Web
Adjective
The purse has top handles, a removable shoulder strap, and multiple interior and exterior pockets. Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2024 The hard exterior/soft music juxtaposition of 4batz’s videos has clearly been effective. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 The exterior walls are outfitted with sliding lattice windows, while the entrance is constructed of stainless steel. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 The New Look In a simple logo that suggests the exterior bow design of the No Limits line, Rossinavi is taking a minimalistic, simple, forward-looking approach. Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 According to Cosentino’s 2024 trend report, surfaces will be playing a key role in bridging interior and exterior spaces. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Feb. 2024 The open-plan layout seamlessly blends the interior living spaces with the exterior decks, creating a sense of flow throughout and ensuring guests can easily access all areas. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 Stuff the main compartment with clothes, then use the exterior compression straps to seal it all in. Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 Then the project went on to printing at Citizen Robotics' facility in southwest Detroit, where a robot arm placed layer after layer of cementitious 3D-printable mortar to create building blocks for all the exterior walls. Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
The exterior is a testament to the skill of Van der Valk’s aluminum shapers and welders. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024 Passengers are supposed to report any damage to the exterior or interior of the vehicle during their ride and could be held responsible for that damage if it’s discovered at a later time, according to the terms of service. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Boosting your home's curb appeal can include painting your home's exterior, restaining fences or decks, or power washing walk-ups and siding. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024 On the exterior, the home features composition shingles on the roof. Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 The canvas exterior keeps these shoes lightweight and packable while taking up minimal space in your luggage, while a sturdy rubber sole gives you the traction needed to remain secure on slick city streets this spring. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 While some tweaks were necessary to the exterior, the interior looks identical to that found in the coupé with the exception of a neck warmer and an optional wind blocker. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 The new pacemakers use lightweight silicon membranes to adhere to the heart’s exterior and implantable optical fibers to regulate the heart rhythm, according to Tian. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2024 With a sleek exterior and elegant neutral color palette, the play furniture blends perfectly into any high-design space. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 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.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin, comparative of exter, exterus being on the outside, foreign, from ex

First Known Use

Adjective

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of exterior was in 1528

Dictionary Entries Near exterior

Cite this Entry

“Exterior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exterior. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exterior

1 of 2 adjective
ex·​te·​ri·​or ek-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce exterior (audio)
1
: situated on the outside
2
3
: suitable for use on outside surfaces
exterior paint
exteriorly adverb

exterior

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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 How to pronounce exterior (audio)
: being on an outside surface : situated on the outside
exteriorly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on exterior

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!