Meaning & use
exhibit
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To put something on show so that the public can look at it.
Grammar: Takes an object: the gallery will exhibit her paintings.
Patterns
- exhibit something at somewhere
The museum will exhibit rare maps this summer.
She exhibits her pottery at local fairs.
The farm exhibited prize pumpkins at the county show.
verbtransitiveformal
To show clearly a feeling, quality or sign of something.
Grammar: Takes an object, often an abstract noun: exhibit signs of stress.
Patterns
- exhibit signs of something
The patient exhibited symptoms of fever.
The students exhibit great enthusiasm for science.
He exhibited no fear when facing the crowd.
nouncountable
An item or collection placed on display in a museum or show.
Grammar: Countable: an exhibit, several exhibits.
Patterns
- an exhibit of something
The dinosaur exhibit drew large crowds.
Children loved the hands-on exhibit about space.
nouncountablelegal
An object or document presented as evidence in a court case.
Grammar: Often numbered: Exhibit A.
The lawyer showed the jury Exhibit A, a signed letter.
The knife was entered as an exhibit.
Word forms
| third person singular | exhibits |
|---|---|
| past tense | exhibited |
| past participle | exhibited |
| -ing form | exhibiting |
Common combinations
- exhibit signs of
- The dog exhibited signs of fear.
- exhibit behavior
- Some animals exhibit odd behavior before storms.
- on exhibit
- The painting is on exhibit until June.
- exhibit symptoms
- He exhibited symptoms of the flu.
- exhibit talent
- She exhibited remarkable talent early on.
Synonyms and how they differ
- display
- Display is the general word for putting something where it can be seen, including in shops.
- show
- Show is the plainest and most common word, and works in both senses.
- demonstrate
- Demonstrate means to prove or illustrate through action, not merely to show.
- present
- Present suggests offering something formally to an audience.
Opposites
Word family
- exhibition noun
- a public display of items
- exhibitor noun
- a person who shows items
- exhibitionist noun
- a person who loves attention, and sometimes behaves indecently
- exhibitory adjective
- relating to showing (rare)
Commonly confused: exhibit or inhibit?
exhibit vs inhibit
Inhibit means to hold back or restrain, whereas exhibit means to show.
Practice
The child began to ___ signs of a cold on Friday morning.
Choose one answer.
Exhibit signs means show signs. Inhibit means restrain, which is a similar-sounding but wrong word here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “exhibit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.