An exhibit synonym tends to belong to either of two worlds: behavior (show, display, demonstrate, reveal) or museums (display, present, showcase). As a verb, exhibit is a slightly formal way to say something shows a sign or a quality, and scientists and doctors lean on it heavily.
Exhibit is also a noun, meaning a single item on view or a piece of evidence in a trial. Each use is handled separately below, plus the traps where a swap shifts the meaning.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
show, display, demonstrate, reveal, showcasePart of speech
Verb and nounPlainest
showMost formal
manifest, evinceAntonyms
hide, conceal, suppressWatch out
Betray means a sign slipped out by accident: his voice betrayed fear. It is not a neutral swap.Word forms covered
exhibits, exhibited, exhibiting, exhibition
Three jobs for the verb
Exhibit does three things, and the best swap changes with each.
| Use | Swap with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A person or thing shows a trait | show, display, demonstrate | The puppy displays a calm temper. |
| A patient shows signs | show, present with, have | The patient presented with a fever. |
| A gallery puts work on view | display, show, feature | The library features local quilts. |
The broadest swap is show, which almost always works. Our display page covers the visual side in more depth.
From show to manifest: formality
Formality rises chip by chip along that strip. Show fits any sentence. Put on show has a public, slightly old feel. Display is neutral and visual. Showcase implies showing something off in its best light, and manifest is the academic choice: symptoms manifest in early childhood.
In lab reports, exhibit and display are both standard (the samples exhibited high stability). In a blog post, plain show reads faster.
The right exhibit synonym in context
- The students exhibited great patience becomes the students showed great patience.
- The alloy exhibits strong resistance to rust becomes the alloy demonstrates strong resistance to rust.
- The museum will exhibit her sketches becomes the museum will showcase her sketches.
- He exhibited no fear becomes he revealed no fear.
- Children who exhibit signs of stress becomes children who show signs of stress.
Picture a note on a school report: "Maya exhibits leadership skills" is fine but stiff. "Maya often takes the lead in group work" paints a picture parents remember.
Exhibit as a noun
In a museum, an exhibit can be one object or a whole room. Britons tend to call the whole event an exhibition; Americans happily say exhibit for the event and for one piece. Other swaps include display, show, installation for a large art piece, and expo or fair for trade events.
In law, Exhibit A is the first item of evidence. People also use it as a joke for the clearest example: my desk is exhibit A for why I need a cleaner. Swap with a prime example or proof in casual writing.
Near misses
Demonstrate can imply proof, so the data demonstrates a link is stronger than the data shows signs of a link. Reveal suggests something was hidden before. Flaunt and show off add pride or vanity, which exhibit does not have. Present fits formal talks and medical signs but sounds odd for a personality trait.
Opposites of exhibit
To hide a feeling, use conceal, suppress or mask. For hiding facts, withhold and cover up work, though cover up suggests wrongdoing. Simple hide fits almost anything.
- She masked her nerves with a smile.
- The lab withheld its early findings.
Browse the action verbs hub when you need a verb that is not covered here.
Frequently asked questions
Is exhibit the same as display?
Often, yes. Display leans more toward visual showing, while exhibit is common for traits and symptoms as well as artworks.
Exhibit or exhibition for an art show?
For the whole event, exhibition is standard in the UK. American speakers say exhibit for one object and for the entire show.
Which exhibit synonym fits a research paper?
Show and demonstrate are clear and accepted. Manifest suits symptoms or patterns that appear over time.
Can showcase replace exhibit?
Yes, when the goal is to present something at its best, like a portfolio or a new product. It sounds wrong for symptoms or bad habits.
How would I say the opposite of exhibiting a feeling?
Hide or conceal for feelings and objects. Suppress fits emotions you hold back on purpose.
What does exhibit A mean in everyday speech?
It means the most obvious example or proof of something. It comes from courtroom language, where exhibits are labeled with letters.