First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1display
verb dis·play \di-ˈsplā\
: to put (something) where people can see it
: to show that you have (an emotion, quality, skill, etc.)
Full Definition of DISPLAY
transitive verb
1
a : to put or spread before the view <display the flag> b : to make evident <displayed great skill> c : to exhibit ostentatiously <liked to display his erudition>
2
obsolete : descry
intransitive verb
1
obsolete : show off
2
: to make a breeding display <penguins displayed and copulated>
— dis·play·able \-ˈsplā-ə-bəl\ adjective
See display defined for English-language learners
See display defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DISPLAY
Middle English, from Anglo-French desplaier, desploier, literally, to unfold — more at deploy
Related to DISPLAY
Synonym Discussion of DISPLAY
show, exhibit, display, expose, parade, flaunt mean to present so as to invite notice or attention. show implies no more than enabling another to see or examine <showed her snapshots to the whole group>. exhibit stresses putting forward prominently or openly <exhibit paintings at a gallery>. display emphasizes putting in a position where others may see to advantage <display sale items>. expose suggests bringing forth from concealment and displaying <sought to expose the hypocrisy of the town fathers>. parade implies an ostentatious or arrogant displaying <parading their piety for all to see>. flaunt suggests a shameless, boastful, often offensive parading <nouveaux riches flaunting their wealth>.
show, manifest, evidence, evince, demonstrate mean to reveal outwardly or make apparent. show is the general term but sometimes implies that what is revealed must be gained by inference from acts, looks, or words <careful not to show his true feelings>. manifest implies a plainer, more immediate revelation <manifested musical ability at an early age>. evidence suggests serving as proof of the actuality or existence of something <a commitment evidenced by years of loyal service>. evince implies a showing by outward marks or signs <evinced not the slightest fear>. demonstrate implies showing by action or by display of feeling <demonstrated their approval by loud applause>.
show, manifest, evidence, evince, demonstrate mean to reveal outwardly or make apparent. show is the general term but sometimes implies that what is revealed must be gained by inference from acts, looks, or words <careful not to show his true feelings>. manifest implies a plainer, more immediate revelation <manifested musical ability at an early age>. evidence suggests serving as proof of the actuality or existence of something <a commitment evidenced by years of loyal service>. evince implies a showing by outward marks or signs <evinced not the slightest fear>. demonstrate implies showing by action or by display of feeling <demonstrated their approval by loud applause>.
Rhymes with DISPLAY
abbé, affray, agley, airplay, airway, aisleway, all-day, allay, allée, Angers, Anhui, archway, array, ashtray, assay, astray, Augier, away, aweigh, backstay, ballet, base pay, bat ray, beignet, belay, beltway, benday, beret, betray, bewray, bidet, bikeway, birthday, Biscay, Bizet, blasé, bobstay, Bombay, Bossuet, bouchée, bouclé, boule, bouquet, Bourget, bourrée, breezeway, Bouvet, Broadway, buffet, byplay, byway, cachet, café, cahier, Cambay, Cathay, causeway, chaîné, chalet, chambray, chassé, child's play, ciré, cliché, congé, convey, co-pay, Corday, corvée, coudé, coupé, crawlway, crochet, croquet, crossway, cube, curé, cy pres, DA, daresay, D-day, death ray, decay, deejay, defray, delay, dengue, dismay, distrait, DJ, donnée, doomsday, doorway, dossier, downplay, dragée, driveway, duvet, Earl Grey, embay, épée, essay, estray, Ewe, fair play, fairway, Feuillet, field day, filé, filet, fillet, fireclay, fishway, flambé, flight pay, floodway, flyway, folkway, footway, foray, force play, forebay, foreplay, forestay, formée, forte, fouetté, foul play, Fouquet, four-way, fourchée, foyer, franglais, frappé, freeway, Friday, frieze, fumet, gainsay, Galway, gamay, gangway, gateway, gelée, give way, glacé, godet, gourmet, Green Bay, greenway, guideway, gunplay, hair spray, halfway, hallway, Hannay, harm's way, hatchway, headway, hearsay, Hebei, Hefei, heyday, highway, hold sway, homestay, hooray, horseplay, Hubei, in play, in re, inlay, inveigh, Islay, issei, jackstay, James Bay, jennet, jeté, Jetway, Jolliet, keyway, Kobe, koine, kouprey, lamé, laneway, lay day, leeway, lifeway, Lomé, Lord's day, lwei, lycée, M-day, maguey, mainstay, make hay, Malay, malgré, man-day, Mande, Manet, manqué, margay, massé, match play, maté, May Day, Medway, melee, meze, midday, midway, Midway, Millay, Millet, mislay, misplay, moiré, Monday, Monet, Mornay, name day, Niamey, nisei, noonday, Norway, nosegay, obey, OK, olé, ombré, one-way, osprey, Otway, outlay, outré, outstay, outweigh, oyez, PA, parfait, parkway, parlay, parquet, partway, passé, pâté, pathway, pavé, payday, pearl gray, per se, pince-nez, pipe clay, piqué, piquet, pith ray, PK, plié, plissé, pommée, Pompeii, portray, prepay, projet, pulque, puree, purvey, quale, Quesnay, raceway, Rahway, railway, rappee, red bay, relay, repay, replay, risqué, roadway, Roget, role-play, ropeway, rosé, rosebay, Roubaix, roué, routeway, runway, sachet, saint's day, Salé, sansei, sashay, sauté, screenplay, scrub jay, seaway, Shark Bay, shar-pei, shipway, short-day, sick bay, sick day, sick pay, sideway, skyway, slideway, slipway, sluiceway, soigné, soiree, someday, someway, soothsay, soufflé, speedway, spillway, squeeze play, stairway, sternway, stingray, straightway, strathspey, stroke play, subway, Sunday, survey, sweet bay, swordplay, tea tray, tempeh, thoughtway, thruway, Thursday, tideway, today, Tokay, tollway, Torbay, touché, toupee, trackway, tramway, Tuesday, Twelfth Day, two-way, unlay, unsay, valet, V-day, veejay, vide, visé, Vouvray, walkway, waylay, Wednesday, weekday, white way, windway, wood ray, wordplay, workday
2display
noun, often attributive
: an arrangement of objects intended to decorate, advertise, entertain, or inform people about something
: an event at which something is done or shown to impress or entertain people
: an action, performance, etc., which shows very clearly that you have some ability, feeling, quality, etc.
Full Definition of DISPLAY
1
a (1) : a setting or presentation of something in open view <a fireworks display> (2) : a clear sign or evidence : exhibition <a display of courage> b : ostentatious show c : type, composition, or printing designed to catch the eye d : an eye-catching arrangement by which something is exhibited <a display of artifacts> —often used with on <her early paintings are currently on display> e : an electronic device (as a cathode-ray tube) that presents information in visual form; also : the visual information
2
: a pattern of behavior exhibited especially by male birds in the breeding season
See display defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DISPLAY
1665
Related to DISPLAY
- Synonyms
- exhibition, exhibit, expo, exposition, fair, show
DISPLAY Defined for Kids
1display
verb dis·play \di-ˈsplā\
dis·playeddis·play·ing
Definition of DISPLAY for Kids
1
: to put (something) in plain sight <The store displays toys in its window.>
2
: to make clear the existence or presence of : show plainly <display anger> <She displayed a gift for acting.>
2display
noun
Definition of DISPLAY for Kids
1
: a presentation of something <a fireworks display>
2
: an arrangement of something where it can be easily seen <a store display>
3
: an electronic device (as a computer monitor) that shows information
Learn More About DISPLAY
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: display advertisingPrevious Word in the Dictionary: displantAll Words Near: display
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up display? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).