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Definition of example noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

example

noun
 
/ɪɡˈzɑːmpl/
 
/ɪɡˈzæmpl/
Idioms
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  1. something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say
    • Let me give you an example.
    • It is important to cite examples to support your argument.
    • to provide/offer an example
    • I shall take four different examples from contemporary literature to illustrate my point.
    • example of something Can you show me an example of what you mean?
    • This dictionary has many examples of how words are used.
    • Just to give you an example of his generosity—he gave me his old car and wouldn't take any money for it.
    • The progress the students have made serves as an example of the benefit of small class sizes.
    • By way of example, we'll look at our most recent advertising campaign.
    Language Bank e.g.e.g.Giving examples
      • The website has a variety of interactive exercises (e.g. matching games, crosswords and quizzes).
      • The website has a variety of interactive exercises, including matching games, crosswords and quizzes.
      • Internet technologies, such as wikis, blogs and social networking sites, have changed the way that people find information and interact with it.
      • Many websites allow users to contribute information. A good example of this is the ‘wiki’, a type of website that anyone can edit.
      • Wikis vary in how open they are. For example, some wikis allow anybody to edit content, while others only allow registered users to do this.
      • Wikis vary in how open they are. Some wikis, for example/for instance, allow anybody to edit content, while others only allow registered users to do this.
      • More and more people read their news on the internet. To take one example, over 14 million people now read the online version of ‘The Oxford Herald’.
      • Online newspapers are now more popular than paper ones. ‘The Oxford Herald’ is a case in point. Its print circulation has fallen in recent years, while its website attracts millions of users every month.
    Extra Examples
    • Consider the following example…
    • He uses a number of historical examples to support his thesis.
    • Let me give a concrete example of what I mean.
    • The book is full of practical examples of classroom activities.
    • The leaflet includes several examples of bad grammar.
    • The teacher in our example is clearly wrong.
    • These examples suggest that there is a connection between the two processes.
    • This is far from an isolated example.
    • To take an obvious example, if there is a good harvest the price of grain will fall.
    • Twenty-seven examples are presented in this video.
    • We can still find examples of discrimination today.
    • We've seen other examples of this same problem recently.
    • a book filled with real-life examples that anyone can relate to
    • a telling example of how difficult it can be to succeed in business
    • the example shown in Figure 2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • characteristic
    • classic
    • prime
    verb + example
    • give somebody
    • offer
    • provide (somebody with)
    example + verb
    • demonstrate something
    • highlight something
    • illustrate something
    preposition
    • for example
    • in an/​the example
    • example of
    See full entry
  2. example (of something) a thing that is typical of or represents a particular group or set
    • This is a good example of the artist's early work.
    • It is a perfect example of this type of architecture.
    • Japan is often quoted as the prime example of a modern industrial nation.
    • It is a classic example of how not to design a new city centre.
    Synonyms exampleexamplecase instance specimen illustrationThese are all words for a thing or situation that is typical of a particular group or set, and is sometimes used to support an argument.example something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say; a thing that is typical of or represents a particular group or set:
    • Can you give me an example of what you mean?
    case a particular situation or a situation of a particular type; a situation that relates to a particular person or thing:
    • In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment.
    instance (rather formal) a particular situation or a situation of a particular type:
    • The report highlights a number of instances of injustice.
    specimen an example of something, especially an animal or plant:
    • The aquarium has some interesting specimens of unusual tropical fish.
    illustration (rather formal) a story, an event or an example that clearly shows the truth about something:
    • The statistics are a clear illustration of the point I am trying to make.
    example or illustration?An illustration is often used to show that something is true. An example is used to help to explain something.Patterns
    • a(n) example/​case/​instance/​specimen/​illustration of something
    • in a particular case/​instance
    • for example/​instance
    Extra Examples
    • The film was held up as an example of good cinema.
    • This is a classic example of a badly designed building.
    • This is among the worst examples of corporate greed.
    • a magnificent example of 18th-century architecture
    • His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • characteristic
    • classic
    • prime
    verb + example
    • give somebody
    • offer
    • provide (somebody with)
    example + verb
    • demonstrate something
    • highlight something
    • illustrate something
    preposition
    • for example
    • in an/​the example
    • example of
    See full entry
  3. a person or their behaviour that is thought to be a good model for others to copy
    • example to somebody Her courage is an example to us all.
    • example for somebody He sets an example for the other students.
    • example of something They are a shining example of the best of the human spirit.
    • by example He is a captain who leads by example.
    • Top management should be seen to lead by example.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • good
    • great
    • inspiring
    verb + example
    • set
    • show
    • follow
    preposition
    • by example
    • example to
    phrases
    • make an example of somebody
    See full entry
  4. a person’s behaviour, either good or bad, that other people copy
    • It would be a mistake to follow his example.
    • They started to plan protests, inspired by the example of their neighbours.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • good
    • great
    • inspiring
    verb + example
    • set
    • show
    • follow
    preposition
    • by example
    • example to
    phrases
    • make an example of somebody
    See full entry
  5. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, from Latin exemplum, from eximere ‘take out’, from ex- ‘out’ + emere ‘take’. Compare with sample.
Idioms
for example
 
  1. (abbreviation e.g.)
    used to emphasize something that explains or supports what you are saying; used to give an example of what you are saying
    • There is a similar word in many languages, for example in French and Italian.
    • The report is incomplete; it does not include sales in France, for example.
    • It is possible to combine computer science with other subjects, for example physics.
    • An athlete, for example, might turn the pedals 80 times a minute.
    Language Bank e.g.e.g.Giving examples
      • The website has a variety of interactive exercises (e.g. matching games, crosswords and quizzes).
      • The website has a variety of interactive exercises, including matching games, crosswords and quizzes.
      • Internet technologies, such as wikis, blogs and social networking sites, have changed the way that people find information and interact with it.
      • Many websites allow users to contribute information. A good example of this is the ‘wiki’, a type of website that anyone can edit.
      • Wikis vary in how open they are. For example, some wikis allow anybody to edit content, while others only allow registered users to do this.
      • Wikis vary in how open they are. Some wikis, for example/for instance, allow anybody to edit content, while others only allow registered users to do this.
      • More and more people read their news on the internet. To take one example, over 14 million people now read the online version of ‘The Oxford Herald’.
      • Online newspapers are now more popular than paper ones. ‘The Oxford Herald’ is a case in point. Its print circulation has fallen in recent years, while its website attracts millions of users every month.
make an example of somebody
  1. to punish somebody as a warning to others not to do the same thing
    • The teacher made an example of him by suspending him from school.
See example in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee example in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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