exhibition
B1Neutral (Common in formal, academic, business, and everyday contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A public display of works of art, objects of interest, or skills; an organized presentation.
An act or instance of showing, revealing, or manifesting a quality, behavior, or emotion in a noticeable way.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a curated, organized, and public display. In its extended sense (e.g., 'an exhibition of bad temper'), it often carries a negative connotation of an excessive or deliberate display.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily spelling of derived forms (exhibitioner vs. exhibitor). In UK educational contexts, 'exhibition' can refer to a scholarship awarded at certain universities (e.g., Cambridge). The phrase 'make an exhibition of oneself' is common in both but slightly more frequent in UK English.
Connotations
Largely identical. The UK-specific scholarship meaning is a notable regional semantic extension.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects. The base noun form is dominant.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
exhibition of [noun] (e.g., exhibition of paintings)exhibition on [topic] (e.g., exhibition on climate change)exhibition at [venue] (e.g., exhibition at the museum)exhibition by [artist] (e.g., exhibition by Picasso)put on/mount/hold/stage an exhibitionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “make an exhibition of oneself (to behave embarrassingly in public)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to trade shows, product launches, and industry fairs where companies showcase goods and services.
Academic
Used for curated displays of research, historical artifacts, or student work in museums and galleries.
Everyday
Commonly refers to visiting an art gallery show, a school science fair, or a local craft display.
Technical
In law, an item produced and identified in court as evidence. In sports, a non-competitive 'exhibition game'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The gallery will exhibition the new acquisitions in the spring.
- He was exhibitioning his poor sportsmanship for all to see.
American English
- The museum plans to exhibition the sculptor's early works.
- The team exhibitioned a total lack of coordination.
adverb
British English
- This model is only shown exhibitionally, it's not for sale.
- He behaved exhibitionistically, demanding everyone's attention.
American English
- The product was displayed exhibitionally at the front of the store.
- She danced exhibitionistically in the center of the room.
adjective
British English
- The exhibition catalogue was beautifully designed.
- They played an exhibition match for charity.
American English
- The exhibition hall was packed.
- He gave an exhibition performance at the county fair.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw an exhibition of dinosaurs at the museum.
- The school exhibition is on Friday.
- The new photography exhibition explores life in the city.
- They are holding an exhibition of local artists' work in the community centre.
- The gallery's major summer exhibition features rarely seen Impressionist drawings.
- His public outburst was a disgraceful exhibition of petulance.
- The biennial exhibition serves as a barometer for contemporary artistic trends.
- The diplomat's skillful handling of the crisis was a masterful exhibition of tact and resolve.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EXit the HIBI (heebie-jeebies) and show your work in an exhibition.' (EX-HIBI-tion).
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/QUALITIES ARE VISIBLE OBJECTS (e.g., 'an exhibition of generosity'). PUBLIC EVENTS ARE PERFORMANCES.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'выставка' for a 'show' or 'performance' (e.g., a theatre show is not an exhibition).
- The Russian 'экспонат' is an 'exhibit', not an 'exhibition'. An exhibition is the entire collection/event.
- In English, 'exhibitionism' is almost exclusively a clinical/negative term for indecent exposure, not about showing art.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'We went to an exhibition of a new film.' (Correct: '... screening/premiere of a new film.').
- Spelling: Confusing 'exhibition' with 'inhibition'.
- Article use: 'She has exhibition at the gallery' (Missing article: 'She has an exhibition...').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'exhibition' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Exhibition' often implies a curated, static display (art, artifacts), while 'show' is broader and can include performances (dog show, fashion show). They overlap, but 'art show' is more informal than 'art exhibition'.
The verb form 'exhibit' is standard. Using 'exhibition' as a verb (e.g., 'to exhibition paintings') is very rare and generally considered non-standard or a back-formation; it should be avoided in formal writing.
An 'exhibit' (noun) is a single item on display within an 'exhibition' (the entire event/collection). 'Exhibit' can also be the verb meaning 'to show'.
It is an idiom meaning to behave in a foolish, embarrassing, or attention-seeking way in public, causing others to feel ashamed for or critical of you.
Collections
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Travel and Culture
B1 · 48 words · Cultural experiences and traveling the world.