exam
noun
an examination, as in school.
exam
1 American
[ig-zam]
/ ɪgˈzæm /
noun
Informal.
-
exams
plural
exam.
2
American
abbreviation
-
examination.
-
examined.
-
examinee.
-
examiner.
exam
British
/ ɪɡˈzæm /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of exam
First recorded in 1875–80; short form
Explanation
An exam is a test. Many high school and college classes have a midterm exam and a final exam. The word exam is short for examination, from 19th century student slang. An exam usually takes place in a class and consists of questions that test a student's knowledge. Sometimes the word describes a medical test of some kind, like an eye exam, a dental exam, or a physical exam. Rather than testing knowledge or skill, these exams are procedures meant to diagnose or rule out illnesses.
Vocabulary lists containing exam
Education and Academics, List 2
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Unit 18, Lesson 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
By Wednesday, reporting surfaced that Zacharia sat for the California bar exam after graduating from Pepperdine University’s law school in 2011, but did not pass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Meanwhile, questions about her credentials took center stage, as she identified herself as a lawyer but in fact had never passed the bar exam.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
But the 41-year-old acknowledged Thursday she had failed the bar exam, a prerequisite for practicing law in the United States.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Zacharia took the bar exam in California after graduating from law school but did not pass, according to the Wall Street Journal.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
It’s the same final question I had on my first exam.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
"You are the one who has to go and take the exam. I am here to prepare everything for you but ultimately it is you who has to go there," she told him.
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026
“By 2023, it could pass the bar exam. By 2024, it could write working software and explain graduate-level science.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
“This lawsuit is an attempt by the State Bar to shift the blame for its flawed development process for the February exam. We will defend ourselves vigorously in court.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2025
"I'm treating this as a journey. If I can help people get a breast exam, a colonoscopy, or a prostate exam. Go do it because, for me, early detection meant everything," he urged.
From Salon ● Nov. 14, 2024
“Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam. . . .”
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
It included a French literature teacher at the Lycee Blaise-Cendrars in the town of Sevran, who said she was not replaced for six months before key exams during her maternity leave.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
France's 10,000 medical students, however, are beginning to express concern at the effect any continued school blockades could have on exams starting Monday that help determine their eventual speciality.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
Some teenagers are already using artificial intelligence to tackle homework, revise for exams and sharpen coursework.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Many institutions have heeded the warning and cracked down on cheating, implementing AI-detection software, blue books and oral exams.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Ms. Martinez passes out the exams, and as soon as she tells us to begin, I attack each problem, one after the other.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
