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.
‘Supergirl’ flies into theaters, Larry David returns with a new sketch-comedy series, the awe-inspiring Raphael exhibition closes at the Met, and more.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026
This exhibition tells the story of that institution and the history of American innovation through photographs, architectural plans, copies of patents, prints and other works.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026
In 2023 Banksy called it his "favourite work of art in the UK", and it is was the reason he chose to hold his first exhibition in 14 years at the gallery.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
Mayweather is scheduled to face kickboxer Mike Zambidis in a full-contact exhibition June 27 in Athens, Greece, and a rematch with Pacquiao is set for September in Las Vegas.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
He hoped that, somewhere, she was half as happy as— Down on the main exhibition area, there was Cady, just as she had been a moment before.
From "A Tangle of Knots" by Lisa Graff
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.
