# exhibit

/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/ (US) · /ɛɡzˈɪbɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exhibit
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to display in public

verb · CEFR B2

to show something for people to see, especially in a museum or a competition.

For teachers: to display an object or collection for public inspection, typically in a gallery, museum, or trade show.

- Several local artists will exhibit their paintings at the town hall this weekend.
- The museum plans to exhibit the recently discovered Roman coins in a climate-controlled glass case near the main entrance.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice when referring to museum collections.

### 2. to show a quality

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to show a particular feeling, quality, or sign of something.

For teachers: to manifest or demonstrate a specific characteristic, emotion, or physical symptom.

- The patient began to exhibit signs of a fever late last night.
- The research subjects did not exhibit any significant behavioral changes after the first phase of the clinical trial.

Usage: Common in academic, medical, and psychological contexts.

### 3. an item on display

noun · CEFR B2

an object or a collection of objects that is shown in an exhibition.

For teachers: an item or group of items presented in a public display, such as a museum gallery.

- The most popular exhibit in the museum is the giant dinosaur skeleton.
- Visitors are requested not to touch the fragile textiles featured in the temporary exhibit on ancient weaving techniques.

### 4. legal evidence

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

an object or document shown in a court of law to prove something.

For teachers: a document or physical object formally introduced as evidence during a court trial or a legal deposition.

- The lawyer showed the jury Exhibit A, which was a photograph of the car.
- The prosecution entered the blood-stained clothing into the record as Exhibit B to establish the defendant's presence at the scene.

Usage: Usually followed by a letter or number to identify the specific piece of evidence.

## Examples

- The museum has a new exhibit about ancient Egypt.
- The prosecutor presented the blood-stained glove as exhibit A to the jury during the trial.
- While the permanent exhibit focuses on local history, the visiting collection provides a broader perspective on the industrial revolution's impact across the entire continent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.