Definition of 'example'
Word forms: plural examples
2. countable noun
3.
See for example
4. countable noun
5. countable noun
In a dictionary entry, an example is a phrase or sentence which shows how a particular word is used.
6.
7.
8.
See set an example
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
example
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
Word Frequency
example in British English
noun
2.
you must set an example to the younger children
4.
the headteacher made an example of him
5. See for example
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin exemplum pattern, from eximere to take out, from ex-1 + emere to purchase
Word Frequency
example in American English
noun
1.
2.
to fine a speeder as an example to others
3.
a person or thing to be imitated; model; pattern; precedent
4.
verb transitiveWord forms: exˈampled or exˈampling
5.
to exemplify
obs., except in the passive SIMILAR WORDS: ˈinstance, ˈmodel
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME < OFr example, essample < L exemplum, sample, example < eximere, to take out < ex-, out + emere, to buy < IE base *em-, to take > Lith imùWord Frequency
example in American English
(ɪɡˈzæmpəl, -ˈzɑːm-) (verb -pled, -pling)
noun
SYNONYMS 1. example, sample, specimen refer to an individual phenomenon taken as representative of a type, or to a part
representative of the whole. example is used of an object, condition, etc., that is assumed to illustrate a certain principle
or standard: a good example of baroque architecture. sample refers to a small portion of a substance or to a single representative of a group
or type that is intended to show what the rest of the substance or the group is like:
a sample of yarn. specimen usually suggests that the “sample” chosen is intended to serve a scientific or technical
purpose: a blood specimen; zoological specimens. 2. See ideal. 3. See case11.
one of a number of things, or a part of something, taken to show the character of
the whole
This painting is an example of his early work
3.
an instance serving for illustration; specimen
The case histories gave carefully detailed examples of this disease
4.
5.
an instance, esp. of punishment, serving as a warning to others
Public executions were meant to be examples to the populace
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME exa(u)mple ‹ MF example ‹ L exemplum, akin to eximere to take out (ex- ex-1 + emere to buy, orig. take); r. ME exemple ‹ L, as above]Examples of 'example' in a sentence
example
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In other languages
example
British English: example
/ɪɡˈzɑːmpl/ NOUN
An example is something which represents or is typical of a particular group of things.
It's a great example of a small business that grew into a big one.
- American English: example /ɪgˈzæmpəl/
- Arabic: مِثَال
- Brazilian Portuguese: exemplo
- Chinese: 例子
- Croatian: primjer
- Czech: příklad
- Danish: eksempel
- Dutch: voorbeeld
- European Spanish: ejemplo
- Finnish: esimerkki
- French: exemple
- German: Beispiel
- Greek: παράδειγμα
- Italian: esempio
- Japanese: 例
- Korean: 예
- Norwegian: eksempel
- Polish: przykład
- European Portuguese: exemplo
- Romanian: exemplu
- Russian: пример
- Latin American Spanish: ejemplo
- Swedish: exempel
- Thai: ตัวอย่าง
- Turkish: örnek
- Ukrainian: приклад
- Vietnamese: ví dụ
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