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Meaning & use

export

verb, noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ɪkˈspɔːt/
US/ɪkˈspɔːrt/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive or intransitivebusiness

    To send goods or services to another country to sell them.

    Grammar: Stress on second syllable as a verb: exPORT.

    Patterns

    • export something to somewhere
    • export something from somewhere

    The country exports coffee to Europe.

    They export mostly to Asia.

    Wine is exported from this region.

  2. verbtransitivecomputing

    To save data from a program in a form another program can use.

    Grammar: Takes an object: export the file.

    Patterns

    • export something to something

    Export the spreadsheet as a PDF.

    You can export contacts to a CSV.

    The app exports photos.

  3. verbtransitivefigurative

    To spread an idea or practice to other places.

    Grammar: Figurative: export ideas.

    Patterns

    • export something to somewhere

    They exported their methods overseas.

    The band exported its style.

    The fashion was exported to Asia.

  4. nouncountablebusiness

    A product or service sold to another country.

    Grammar: Stress on first syllable as a noun: EXport.

    Patterns

    • an export of something

    Oil is the nation's main export.

    Exports rose last year.

    Cars are a major export.

  5. noununcountablebusiness

    The business of selling goods abroad.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: export sales.

    Patterns

    • export of something

    Export is vital to the economy.

    The firm handles export of machinery.

    Export licenses are required.

Word forms

third person singularexports
past tenseexported
past participleexported
-ing formexporting
pluralexports

Common combinations

export goods
They export goods worldwide.
main export
Tea is the main export.
export market
A new export market opened.
export ban
An export ban was imposed.
export data
Export data to a file.

Synonyms and how they differ

ship abroad
Ship abroad is informal and stresses transport.
sell overseas
Sell overseas is plain and stresses selling.
transfer
Transfer is used for moving data.

Opposites

import

Word family

exporter noun
a company or country that exports
exportation noun
the act of exporting
exportable adjective
able to be exported

Commonly confused: export or import?

export vs import

Import is the opposite, bringing goods into a country.

Practice

Which sentence uses export as a verb with correct stress?

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