example

UK: /ɪgˈzɑːmp^əl/ US: /ɪgˈzæmpəl/ ,(ig zam′pəl, -zäm′-)

Inflections of 'example' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

examples

v 3rd person singular

exampling

v pres p

exampled

v past

exampled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•am•ple /ɪgˈzæmpəl/   n. [countable]

1. one of a number of things, or a part of something, that represents the whole thing or whole group:
   This painting is an example of his early work.
2. a pattern or model, as of something to be imitated or avoided:
   to set a good example.
3. for example, (used to mean that what follows is an instance or several instances of what has been spoken or written about);
   for instance:
   The train I take is always late. For example, this morning it was a half an hour late.

See -am-. Usage

The expression for example stays the same if there is one example that follows, or if there are two or more examples:
There are several uses for computers.
One, for example, is as a word processor.
(or)
There are several uses for computers.
For example, they are used as word processors, teaching tools, and reference sources.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•am•ple  (ig zam′pəl, -zäm′-), n., v., -pled, -pling. 
n. 

1. 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.
2. a pattern or model, as of something to be imitated or avoided:
   to set a good example.
3. an instance serving for illustration;
   specimen:
   The case histories gave carefully detailed examples of this disease.
4. Mathematics an instance illustrating a rule or method, as a mathematical problem proposed for solution.
5. an instance, esp. of punishment, serving as a warning to others:
   Public executions were meant to be examples to the populace.
6. a precedent;
   parallel case:
   an action without example.

v.t. 

7. [Rare.] to give or be an example of;
   exemplify (used in the passive).

• Latin, as above
• Latin exemplum, akin to eximere to take out (ex- ex-¹ + emere to buy, origin, originally take); replacing Middle English exemple
• Middle French example
• Middle English exa(u)mple 1350–1400

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 case ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

example / ɪɡˈzɑːmp^əl/ noun

1. a specimen or instance that is typical of the group or set of which it forms part; sample
2. a person, action, thing, etc, that is worthy of imitation; pattern: you must set an example to the younger children
3. a precedent, illustration of a principle, or model: an example in a maths book
4. a punishment or the recipient of a punishment serving or intended to serve as a warning: the headteacher made an example of him
5. for example ⇒ as an illustration; for instance

verb

1. (tr; now usually passive) to present an example of; exemplify

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French, from Latin exemplum pattern, from eximere to take out, from ex-¹ + emere to purchase