exhibition

exhibition — noun

1. a planned public event where works of art, historical objects, or other items ar

1.nounB1
Definition

a planned public event where works of art, historical objects, or other items are put on display, typically in a museum or gallery.

Example

Minho spent the whole afternoon at the photography exhibition in the city gallery.

collocation: photography exhibition / art exhibition

The children's art exhibition at the community centre displayed paintings from over fifty students.

Common collocations
  • art exhibition
  • photography exhibition
  • museum exhibition
  • temporary exhibition
  • solo / group exhibition
  • exhibition hall
  • exhibition space
  • exhibition catalogue
Synonyms
  • show

    more general, can refer to any public display including performances or TV programmes

  • display

    often suggests a smaller or less formal arrangement of objects

  • exposition

    more formal, often refers to a large-scale public exhibition, especially of art, technology, or industry

  • fair

    emphasises commercial or trade purposes alongside display

Grammar Patterns

exhibition + of + noun phrase (objects on display)

exhibition + on + noun phrase (topic or theme)

at + the + exhibition

Usage Note

Always describes a physical or virtual event with a defined time and place. Use 'on' to indicate the topic (an exhibition on climate change) and 'of' to indicate the objects shown (an exhibition of sculptures).

Common Mistakes

I went to exhibition yesterday.
I went to an exhibition yesterday.
exhibition is a countable noun and requires a determiner (a, an, the, this, etc.).
We visited the exhibition of Van Gogh.
We visited an exhibition of Van Gogh's paintings.
specify what objects are displayed, not just the artist's name.

2. a public display of a particular ability, feeling, or type of behaviour that is

2.nounB2
Definition

a public display of a particular ability, feeling, or type of behaviour that is noticeable to others — for example, showing great patience while teaching, or showing courage in a difficult situation.

Example

Devika's cooking competition was a remarkable exhibition of skill and creativity.

exhibition + of + [abstract quality]

Joshua showed an impressive exhibition of patience while teaching his younger brother math.

Common collocations
  • exhibition of skill
  • exhibition of strength
  • exhibition of talent
  • exhibition of patience
  • exhibition of courage
  • exhibition of generosity
  • exhibition of bad temper
Synonyms
  • display

    overlaps in meaning but more commonly used for showing emotions and qualities in everyday contexts

  • demonstration

    emphasises proving or showing how something works rather than just revealing a quality

  • manifestation

    more formal, emphasises that the quality becomes visible or evident

Grammar Patterns

exhibition + of + abstract noun (skill, quality, feeling)

Usage Note

Applies only to behaviour or qualities, never to a planned event or physical location. The object of the 'of'-phrase is always an abstract noun such as patience, courage, or talent. Frequent in formal or descriptive writing rather than casual speech.

Common Mistakes

The museum had an exhibition of patience.
The teacher showed an exhibition of patience in class.
sense 2 describes someone's behaviour, not a physical event with objects on display.
Idioms

make an exhibition of yourself

idiom

To act in a way that makes you look silly or rude in front of other people.

Tom made an exhibition of himself by shouting at the waiter.

Why did you make an exhibition of yourself at the party last night?

Word family

  • exhibit
    verbB1
  • exhibit
    nounB2
  • exhibitor
    nounB2
  • exhibitionist
    nounC1
  • exhibitionism
    nounC1
  • exhibitionistic
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Exhibition, show, exposition, and fair all refer to public events where things are displayed, but they differ in scope and formality. Exhibition is the most neutral and widely used term for any curated display of objects in a museum, gallery, or similar setting. Show is broader and more informal — it can refer to art displays, TV programmes, or performances (an art show, a fashion show, a TV show). Exposition is a formal, often large-scale exhibition, frequently used for world's fairs, trade expos, or major art biennales (the World Expo, an international exposition of architecture). Fair typically combines display with commercial activity or entertainment, such as a book fair, a trade fair, or a county fair with rides and food stalls. For everyday use, exhibition is the safest choice for museums and galleries; use show for casual or multi-purpose events, exposition for grand international showcases, and fair when selling or trading is part of the purpose.

exhibition ↗show ↗exposition ↗fair ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • hold an exhibition
  • put on an exhibition
  • open an exhibition
  • visit an exhibition
  • go to an exhibition

Prepositions

  • at an exhibition
  • on exhibition

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Exhibition comes from Latin exhibitio, meaning 'a showing or presenting'. The Latin verb exhibere is formed from ex- ('out') and habere ('to hold'), so the original image is 'to hold something out for others to see'. The word entered English in the 14th century through Old French and was originally used for formal presentations or displays of legal evidence before the modern meaning of a public art or trade display developed in the 17th–18th centuries.