English Reference
verb · noun

display

v. · n.
US /dɪsˈpɫeɪ/ UK /dɪsplˈeɪ/ dis·play UK spelling displays

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    v.to put something in a place where people can easily see it.

    v.to exhibit or manifest something conspicuously for public or private viewing.

    Simple

    The museum will display the ancient gold coins in a glass case.

    In context

    The gallery chose to display the controversial portraits in a separate room to provide visitors with more context regarding the artist's life.

    Usage

    Transitive; requires a direct object.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    v.to show a feeling or a skill through your actions.

    v.to manifest a quality, emotion, or skill through visible behavior or performance.

    Simple

    The young athlete displayed great courage during the difficult race.

    In context

    Throughout the negotiations, the lead diplomat displayed an impressive level of patience despite the repeated provocations from the opposing side.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    n.a collection of objects or a performance arranged for people to look at.

    n.A public exhibition or spectacle intended to inform or entertain.

    Simple

    We went to the park to watch the spectacular fireworks display.

    In context

    The department store's window display featured a nostalgic winter scene that attracted crowds of shoppers during the holiday season.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    n.the part of a computer, phone, or machine that shows information or pictures.

    n.A device or screen that provides a visual representation of data or images.

    Simple

    The laptop has a high-resolution display that makes colors look very bright.

    In context

    The technician noticed that the liquid crystal display was flickering, suggesting a loose connection within the internal wiring of the control panel.

    screenmonitorreadout

Usage display characteristic · display feature · display level

So, naturally, he decided to turn them into a gigantic sculpture to display in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM).

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

Jayanti found that many programs did not fully support the language, with problems such as missing keyboard characters, fonts that displayed Telugu incorrectly and typesetting software that could not properly handle the script.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

From Middle English displayen, from Anglo-Norman despleier and Old French despleier, desploiier, from Medieval Latin displicare (“to unfold, display”), from Latin dis- (“apart”) + plicāre (“to fold”). Doublet of deploy.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin dis-
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated