English Reference

Word

exhibition

Phoneticsex·hi·bi·tion, stress on the third syllable

US/ˌɛksəˈbɪʃən/

UK/ɛksɪbˈɪʃən/

Definitions

01public show of objects

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a public event where people can look at things like art, history, or new products.

n. a large-scale public display of objects, artworks, or products, typically held in a gallery or museum.

“We went to see the new photography exhibition at the city museum.”

“The retrospective exhibition featured over two hundred sketches that had never been displayed to the public before.”

Synonyms

02demonstration of skill

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a display of a particular quality, feeling, or skill.

n. a clear demonstration or manifestation of a specific skill, quality, or emotion.

“The young pianist gave a brilliant exhibition of her musical talent.”

“The captain's calm response during the crisis was a remarkable exhibition of leadership under extreme pressure.”

03non-competitive game

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. a sports game played for practice or entertainment, not for a league score.

n. a sporting event or match that does not affect the official standings of a league or tournament.

“The team played an exhibition game against a local club before the season started.”

“Although it was merely an exhibition match, the stadium was nearly full as fans were eager to see the new signings in action.”

Synonyms

friendlypractice match

Antonyms

competitive matchtournament

04academic scholarship

C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English · Formal

n. a prize or money given to a student for doing very well in their studies.

n. a financial award or scholarship granted to a student by a school or university based on academic merit.

“He was awarded an exhibition to study history at the university.”

“Winning the senior exhibition allowed her to pursue her research without the burden of additional tuition fees.”

05negative public display

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. a public display of behavior that is embarrassing or bad.

n. a public display of behavior or emotion, often characterized as inappropriate or embarrassing.

“He made an exhibition of himself by shouting at the waiter in the crowded restaurant.”

“The politician made a sorry exhibition of himself by losing his temper during the televised debate.”

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'make an exhibition of oneself'.

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “exhibition” in context.

Verb

01. hold an exhibition

“The local gallery will hold an exhibition of modern paintings next month.”

verb + noun

02. put on an exhibition

“The students put on an exhibition to show their final art projects.”

verb + noun

03. visit an exhibition

“We decided to visit an exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts at the museum.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. permanent exhibition

“The museum's permanent exhibition features works from the 19th century.”

adj + noun

05. solo exhibition

“The young artist is excited to have her first solo exhibition this summer.”

adj + noun

06. traveling exhibition

“This traveling exhibition will move to three different cities over the year.”

adj + noun

Noun

07. art exhibition

“I saw some very interesting sculptures at the art exhibition yesterday.”

noun + noun

08. exhibition center

“The new car models are being displayed at the city exhibition center.”

noun + noun

Preposition

09. on exhibition

“Many rare books are currently on exhibition in the university library.”

prep + noun

Etymology

From Old French exhibicion. Equivalent to exhibit + -ion.

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

Word family

NOUN

exhibition(B1)

Idioms

Domain

Sports

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference