export
Americanverb (used with object)
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to ship (commodities) to other countries or places for sale, exchange, etc.
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to send or transmit (ideas, institutions, etc.) to another place, especially to another country.
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Computers. to save (documents, data, etc.) in a format usable by another software program.
verb (used without object)
noun
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the act of exporting; exportation.
the export of coffee.
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something that is exported; an article exported.
Coffee is a major export of Colombia.
adjective
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of or relating to the exportation of goods or to exportable goods.
export duties.
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produced for export.
an export beer.
noun
verb
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to sell (goods or services) or ship (goods) to a foreign country or countries
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(tr) to transmit or spread (an idea, social institution, etc) abroad
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of export
First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin exportāre “to carry out, carry away,” from ex- ex- 1 + portāre “to carry”
Explanation
To export something is to move it from its current location to a different territory. Some have been trying to export the American diet overseas by spreading McDonald's fries around the globe. The verb export comes from the Latin word exportare which means “to carry out” or “send away.” To export something is to move it across borders. You could export locally made fabric to wealthy European cities. When something is an export, it is a good, service or idea that is sent or sold to a foreign land: diamonds are a valuable African export.
Vocabulary lists containing export
American History I
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Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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The United States
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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.
The agreement also means EU firms will find it easier to export machinery, pharmaceuticals and transport equipment, Brussels said.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
Markets will watch whether export strength in machinery and technology products will continue to offset weak domestic demand.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
The geopolitical bottleneck has a clearance condition: a stable, predictable export framework that both the executive branch and Congress are willing to enforce consistently.
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
Beijing says it supports legitimate civilian use of drone technology, and has implemented "dual-use" export controls to prevent weapons proliferation.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
That’s where all the fruit we export to Europe comes from.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
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.
