exhibit

1 of 2

verb

ex·​hib·​it ig-ˈzi-bət How to pronounce exhibit (audio)
exhibited; exhibiting; exhibits
Synonyms of exhibit

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
… doesn't seem to be exhibiting the same authenticity …—Rob Walton
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
ig-ˈzi-bə-tiv How to pronounce exhibit (audio)
adjective
exhibitor
ig-ˈzi-bə-tər How to pronounce exhibit (audio)
noun
exhibitory
ig-ˈzi-bə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce exhibit (audio)
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

Synonyms of exhibit

Relevance

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
There’s some overlap between the rosters of the fair’s Houston and Miami Beach editions, with some 26 galleries exhibiting at both fairs. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Both multidisciplinary artists, the couple not only exhibit immaculate drip through self-styling, but also collaborate on their own designs, turning out boldly-colored and highly wearable basics through their namesake idea factory, Coker Studio. — Vibe, VIBE.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
The Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled plans for a 2027 Met Gala exhibit that would have honored fashion designer John Galliano following major backlash over past racist and antisemitic statements. — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2026 In 2021, Bartiromo’s comments and shows were cited as exhibits in a defamation lawsuit filed by the voting machine maker Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exhibit

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

Phrases Containing exhibit

Rhymes for exhibit

See All Rhymes for exhibit

Browse Nearby Words

exheridate
exhibit
exhibitable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exhibit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhibit. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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
-ət-ər How to pronounce exhibit (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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