exemplify
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to show by example
-
to serve as an example of
-
law
-
to make an official copy of (a document from public records) under seal
-
to transcribe (a legal document)
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
exemplifysimple
-
exemplifiessimple
-
have exemplifiedperfect
-
has exemplifiedperfect
-
am exemplifyingprogressive
-
are exemplifyingprogressive
-
is exemplifyingprogressive
-
have been exemplifyingperfect progressive
-
has been exemplifyingperfect progressive
Past
-
exemplifiedsimple
-
had exemplifiedperfect
-
was exemplifyingprogressive
-
were exemplifyingprogressive
-
had been exemplifyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exemplify
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English exemplifien, from Middle French exemplifier, from Medieval Latin exemplificāre “to copy”; See exemplum, -ify
Explanation
If you exemplify something, you're the perfect example of it. Say you wear frilly shirts, knee-high boots, and black eye-make-up — you exemplify the fashion world's obsession with pirates. Exemplifying something can also mean make it clearer by offering an illustration or an example. If you want to exemplify your argument that, say, pirate gear is fashionable, you might want to show your friends some pictures of celebrities wearing eye patches.
Vocabulary lists containing exemplify
Power Suffix: -fy
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grade 9, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The AP English Exam: Rhetorical and Literary Terms 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
When Snap’s Specs ship this fall, they’ll be the most advanced glasses of their type, but they’ll also exemplify all of AR’s current shortcomings.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
All the denizens of Thoreau’s Cape Cod, from its scraggly scrub pine trees to its people, exemplify the humility that goes hand-in-hand with danger.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
She will bounce back, and although she isn’t obligated to, she will continue to exemplify resilience.
From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2026
“This level of engagement continues to exemplify the solidarity and strength of our union.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2026
The 1919 experiments would exemplify the Rutherford style.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Gorillaz' latest album, The Mountain, exemplifies that approach.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
The margin story exemplifies the challenge for Oracle and other high-margin software companies.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
And no one exemplifies this intrepid style better than Metcalf.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026
In many ways, bone-marrow transplantation exemplifies the arc of medical advancements: early setbacks, steady refinement and eventual reshaping by more-precise therapies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026
Wilkins, Sprat and Locke are looking for a quite different sort of person, one who exemplifies CUDOS.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
“This is the tip of the iceberg. Apple lacks visibility into what’s been happening behind closed doors at OpenAI, where such misconduct is normalized and exemplified by leadership,” according to the lawsuit.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
First lady Eleanor Roosevelt exhibited laudable courage throughout her life, exemplified by her willingness to take public stands when it was politically dangerous.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Surrey Police Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: "Had it not been for the courage of PC Wakefield, a life would have been lost. His bravery, skill and composure exemplified the best in policing."
From BBC ● May 26, 2026
LeBron James exemplified the mantra when he shape-shifted from the high-usage star he’s been for more than two decades to the most accomplished tertiary option in NBA history.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2026
Of course, the hostess wasn’t to blame for her error, yet the experience perfectly exemplified how I felt about the team in general.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Microsoft’s stock is having its worst month since 2000, and it’s tracking toward one of its worst annual performances on record, exemplifying a broader rotation out of the “Magnificent Seven.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
My award supposedly resulted from a vote by teachers and fellow eighth-graders as the student exemplifying the medal’s virtues—a citizenship prize.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
World leaders have long understood the indispensable role played by the United States in exemplifying and supporting those values.
From Salon ● Dec. 9, 2025
Here’s what they’re up to: busily exemplifying the definition of insanity — doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2024
The relative lack of material goods has led some to regard these groups as exemplifying an ethic of living lightly on the land.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
