exhibition
Americannoun
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an exhibiting, showing, or presenting to view.
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a public display, as of the work of artists or artisans, the products of farms or factories, the skills of performers, or objects of general interest.
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an exposition or large fair of extended duration, as a world's fair.
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British. an allowance given to a student in a college, university, or school, usually upon the result of a competitive examination.
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Medicine/Medical Obsolete. administration, as of a remedy.
noun
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a public display of art, products, skills, activities, etc
a judo exhibition
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the act of exhibiting or the state of being exhibited
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to behave so foolishly in public that one excites notice or ridicule
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an allowance or scholarship awarded to a student at a university or school
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of exhibition
1275–1325; Middle English exhibicion < Late Latin exhibitiōn- (stem of exhibitiō ) a presenting. See exhibit, -ion
Explanation
An exhibition is a collection of items for public display, like an exhibition of children’s artwork, antique vases, or memorabilia from a science fiction movie series. In the 19th century, exhibition was used to refer to a collection of objects, while exhibit designated a single item in an exhibition. Nowadays, exhibition and exhibit are often used interchangeably. Exhibition comes from the Latin ex-, meaning "out," and habere, meaning "hold" — as objects in an exhibition are "held out," or shown, to the public. The h in "hold out" might help you remember to include the h when spelling exhibition.
Vocabulary lists containing exhibition
"Women in Aviation," Vocabulary from the informational text
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Dragon Hoops
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 28–September 3, 2021
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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.
Exhibition text here acknowledges the impact of Japanese colonialism on modern Korean painting, but the story stays with the artists, showing how they built internal support networks to define Korean modernism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
While presidential candidates campaigned around the country, organizers prepared to open Philadelphia’s Centennial Exhibition, the first such World’s Fair in America.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
The pair weighed in at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre before coming face-to-face in what organisers branded 'The Cauldron' - a circular, illuminated stage designed to intensify one final staredown in front of a live audience.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
More than 20,000 pooches of varying size, shape and personality will descend on Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre for the four-day showcase, with one claiming the coveted "Best in Show" crown late Sunday.
From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026
A few days later the sixth Exhibition of the Independents begins in Paris.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
