display

[dih-spley]

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verb (used with object)

to show or exhibit; make visible: to display a sign.

to reveal; betray: to display fear.

to unfold; open out; spread out: to display a sail.

to show ostentatiously; flaunt.

Printing. to give special prominence to (words, captions, etc.) by choice, size, and arrangement of type.

Digital Technology. to output (data) on a screen.

verb (used without object)

(of animals) to engage in a stereotyped behavior that conveys information to individuals of the same or another species.

noun

an act or instance of displaying; exhibition: a display of courage.

an ostentatious show: a vulgar display of wealth.

Printing.

the giving of prominence to particular words, sentences, etc., by the choice, size, and arrangement of types and position, as in an advertisement, headline, or news story.
printed matter thus displayed.

an arrangement, as of merchandise, art objects, or flowers, designed to please the eye, attract buyers, etc.

Digital Technology.

the visual representation of the output of an electronic device.
the portion of an electronic device that shows this representation, as a screen, lens, or reticle.

Animal Behavior.

a pattern of behavior, as posturing, calling, or exposing a color patch, that conveys information to individuals of the same or another species: a threat display.
an instance of such behavior.

Nearby words

Origin of display

1250–1300; Middle English desplayen < Anglo-French, Old French despleier < Late Latin displicāre to unfold. See dis-¹, plicate

SYNONYMS FOR display

4. flourish, parade, air.

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ANTONYMS FOR display

1, 2. conceal.

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Related forms

dis·play·er, nounpre·dis·play, noun, verb (used with object)re·dis·play, verb (used with object)self-dis·play, noun

un·dis·play·ing, adjective

Synonym study

1, 2. Display, evince, exhibit, manifest mean to show or bring to the attention of another or others. To display is literally to spread something out so that it may be most completely and favorably seen: to display goods for sale. To exhibit is to display something in a show: to exhibit the best flowers. They may both be used for showing (off) one's qualities or feelings: He displayed his wit. He exhibited great surprise. To evince and to manifest also mean to show feelings or qualities: to evince or manifest surprise, interest. 8. See show.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for displaying

Passersby passed by, displaying the full pageantry of West Village life.
Well, La Ti Da: Stephin Merritt’s Winning Little Words of Scrabble|David Bukszpan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Owning and displaying any flag was the right of every U.S. citizen.
Stars and Bars on Cars in Texas|Robert Khayat|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Displaying equal prowess with their words, in the end it came down to the crowd, whose energy Arsonal channeled with precision.
America’s Poets: Battle Rap Gets Real|Rich Goldstein|July 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Department stores opened to cater to an increasingly powerful middle class that no longer felt shy about displaying its wealth.
What Lies Beneath: How Lingerie Got Sexy|Raquel Laneri|June 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He took great joy in displaying his Nobel Prize—kind of like a schoolboy showing off his prizes.
Sebastian Barry, Ireland’s Greatest Living Writer, Speaks for the Voiceless|Allen Barra|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While displaying his maniacal agility, he roared out for any "darned red skunk" to show himself and fight him.
Buckskin Mose|Buckskin Mose
Toc suddenly staggered back; his arm flew up, displaying a bloody tooth with three enormous fangs.
The Lonely Island|R.M. Ballantyne
This necessitated his constantly turning from side to side, displaying first this, and then the other side of his head.
From the Rapidan to Richmond and the Spottsylvania Campaign|William Meade Dame
Paris was not backward in displaying its knowledge of English.
"And they thought we wouldn't fight"|Floyd Gibbons
After that first dinner also she had a talk with her son; which resulted in his displaying a common sense that did him credit.
Dorothy's Travels|Evelyn Raymond

British Dictionary definitions for displaying

display

verb

(tr) to show or make visible

(tr) to disclose or make evident; revealto display anger

(tr) to flaunt in an ostentatious wayto display military might

(tr) to spread or open out; unfurl or unfold

(tr) to give prominence to (headings, captions, etc) by the use of certain typefaces

(intr) zoology to engage in a display

noun

the act of exhibiting or displaying; showa display of fear

something exhibited or displayed

an ostentatious or pretentious exhibitiona display of his accomplishments

an arrangement of certain typefaces to give prominence to headings, captions, advertisements, etc
printed matter that is eye-catching

electronics

a device capable of representing information visually, as on a cathode-ray tube screen
the information so presented

zoology a pattern of behaviour in birds, fishes, etc, by which the animal attracts attention while it is courting the female, defending its territory, etc

(modifier) relating to or using typefaces that give prominence to the words they are used to set

Derived Formsdisplayer, noun

Word Origin for display

C14: from Anglo-French despleier to unfold, from Late Latin displicāre to scatter, from dis- 1 + plicāre to fold

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for displaying

display

late 13c., "unfurl" (a banner, etc.), from Old French desploiir (Modern French déployer) "unfold, unfasten, spread out" (of knots, sealed letters, etc.), from Latin displicare "to scatter," from dis- "un-, apart" (see dis-) + plicare "to fold" (see ply (v.1)).

Properly of sails or flags (and unconnected to play); meaning "reveal, exhibit" is late 14c. Related: Displayed; displaying.

display

1580s, "description," from display (v.). Meaning "exhibition" is from 1680s.

display

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Origin of display

Synonym study

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display

verb

noun

Word Origin for display

display

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