display
Americanverb (used with object)
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displays,
present (3rd person singular)
-
displayed,
past participle, past
-
displaying
present participle
-
to show or exhibit; make visible.
to display a sign.
- Antonyms:
- conceal
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to reveal; betray.
to display fear.
- Antonyms:
- conceal
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to unfold; open out; spread out.
to display a sail.
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to show ostentatiously; flaunt.
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Printing. to give special prominence to (words, captions, etc.) by choice, size, and arrangement of type.
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Digital Technology. to output (data) on a screen.
verb (used without object)
-
displays,
present (3rd person singular)
-
displayed,
past participle, past
-
displaying
present participle
noun
-
displays
plural
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an act or instance of displaying; exhibition.
a display of courage.
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an ostentatious show.
a vulgar display of wealth.
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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.
-
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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.
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an instance of such behavior.
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verb
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(tr) to show or make visible
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(tr) to disclose or make evident; reveal
to display anger
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(tr) to flaunt in an ostentatious way
to display military might
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(tr) to spread or open out; unfurl or unfold
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(tr) to give prominence to (headings, captions, etc) by the use of certain typefaces
-
(intr) zoology to engage in a display
noun
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the act of exhibiting or displaying; show
a display of fear
-
something exhibited or displayed
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an ostentatious or pretentious exhibition
a display of his accomplishments
-
-
an arrangement of certain typefaces to give prominence to headings, captions, advertisements, etc
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printed matter that is eye-catching
-
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electronics
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a device capable of representing information visually, as on a cathode-ray tube screen
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the information so presented
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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
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(modifier) relating to or using typefaces that give prominence to the words they are used to set
Usage
What does display mean? To display is to make visible or show to others, as in Francis’s teacher displayed his homework on the “Good Job!” board. A display is an arrangement or showing, as in The art display included paintings and sketches by the famous artist. To display can also mean to reveal or betray, as when you display your feelings with the look on your face. Less commonly, to display means to unfold or spread out, the way a sail does in the wind. Example: We bought the display model so we ended up saving a few dollars.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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displayernoun
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predisplaynoun
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self-displaynoun
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redisplayverb (used with object)
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undisplayingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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displaysimple
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displayssimple
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have displayedperfect
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has displayedperfect
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am displayingprogressive
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are displayingprogressive
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is displayingprogressive
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have been displayingperfect progressive
-
has been displayingperfect progressive
Past
-
displayedsimple
-
had displayedperfect
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was displayingprogressive
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were displayingprogressive
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had been displayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of display
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English desplayen, displayen, from Anglo-French, Old French despleier, desplier, desploier, from Late Latin displicāre “to unfold”; see origin at dis- 1, -fold
Explanation
When you display something, you show everyone. If you run up to someone in the street, throw your arms around her, and plant a big kiss on her face, you're displaying your affection for all the world to see. Besides public displays of emotion, a display can also be common and lifeless. Department store windows often have elaborate displays of the latest fashions, and your computer screen can also be called a display. If you’re especially proud of your butterfly collection, you can put it on display in your office. When showing off for the ladies, peacocks fan out their colorful tail feathers, and that, too, is called a display — a word for male animal courtship behavior.
Vocabulary lists containing display
Essential English Vocabulary, List 4
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Word Generation Weekly - Series 1
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Computer Terms
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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.
See Examples For:
In one podcast episode, she described a breakfast area beside the kitchen, where a bench and the wall above it were intended to become a display for family photographs.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
The entrance of the dingy space includes a display of “Faces of South Texas,” which includes Selena, Nolan Ryan, Tom Landry, and some war heroes.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
Other images on display were likely used to advocate for the abolition of slavery.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
As I poked and prodded the new Pro’s display, the question on my mind was: If and when a touch screen comes to the MacBook Air and other models, what will I do with it?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
Dr. Ramaswami reached into a display and pulled out a long piece of fabric.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
At Brookshire and Firestone Blvds from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. there will be arts and crafts, a chalk walk, face painting, art displays, car altars, and so much more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
Dale said brands such as John Lewis had helped the team create a boutique-style shop by advising on clothing displays and donating rails.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
By the first half of 2026, Meta accounted for 94 percent of worldwide shipments of A.I. glasses without displays.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
The language on the Bulletin’s About Us page displays markers of artificial intelligence such as generic mission statements, polished but repetitive phrasing and vague claims about journalistic standards with no details about the publication’s staff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
I gestured to the store, the displays I’d arranged, the crowd that I’d invited.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Now they are displayed prominently on the front counter, often sparking "honest, personal conversations" with customers, said Doherty.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Those who received the vaccine displayed what Geldsetzer described as “large preventive effects,” correlating to a 20 percent reduction in dementia diagnoses.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
There was that incredible “Little Mix Big Mix” viral dance moment, but Hart also displayed a level of vulnerability which stood out in a show where the stars don't really talk about their personal lives.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
The fallout was starkly displayed through state-television footage of this week’s plenum, with several rows of empty seats visible in the meeting hall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
It was more bad news, though, as the parties exchanged threats, and the second human displayed an uncommon knowledge of fairy affairs.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
In Laayoune, the territory's largest city, footage showed people celebrating, waving Moroccan flags and displaying portraits of King Mohammed VI.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
The room offers an organized setting for displaying clothing, footwear, and accessories, with its glass-front storage giving the space the appearance of a private luxury showroom.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
The Oschin Center seeks to tackle that question head-on by displaying a genuine space potty, extracted from the Endeavour herself and displayed in a glass case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
But it also elicited backlash from a camp who did not think the pair were displaying proper mastery of, or reverence for, flamenco history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
Now I drift over to the counter displaying boring shirtwaists: rows and rows of white blouses with every imaginable variation of button or no button, lace or pleating.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
