example

[ex·am·ple]

An example is a particular instance of something that is representative of a group, or an illustration of something that's been generally described.

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One or a portion taken to show the character or quality of the whole; a sample; a specimen.

Noun
a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding; "you must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook"

Noun
an item of information that is representative of a type; "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome"; "there is an example on page 10"

Noun
something to be imitated; "an exemplar of success"; "a model of clarity"; "he is the very model of a modern major general"

Noun
a representative form or pattern; "I profited from his example"

Noun
punishment intended as a warning to others; "they decided to make an example of him"

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Noun
an occurrence of something; "it was a case of bad judgment"; "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is always the famous example of the Smiths"

n.
One or a portion taken to show the character or quality of the whole; a sample; a specimen.

n.
That which is to be followed or imitated as a model; a pattern or copy.

n.
That which resembles or corresponds with something else; a precedent; a model.

n.
That which is to be avoided; one selected for punishment and to serve as a warning; a warning.

n.
An instance serving for illustration of a rule or precept, especially a problem to be solved, or a case to be determined, as an exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of science; as, in trigonometry and grammar, the principles and rules are illustrated by examples.

v. t.
To set an example for; to give a precedent for; to exemplify; to give an instance of; to instance.

Example

Ex*am"ple , n. [A later form for ensample, fr. L. exemplum, orig., what is taken out of a larger quantity, as a sample, from eximere to take out. See Exempt, and cf. Ensample, Sample.] 1. One or a portion taken to show the character or quality of the whole; a sample; a specimen. 2. That which is to be followed or imitated as a model; a pattern or copy.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as have done to you.

I gave, thou sayest, the example; I led the way.

3. That which resembles or corresponds with something else; a precedent; a model.

Such temperate order in so fierce a cause Doth want example.

4. That which is to be avoided; one selected for punishment and to serve as a warning; a warning.

Hang him; he'll be made an example.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

5. An instance serving for illustration of a rule or precept, especially a problem to be solved, or a case to be determined, as an exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of science; as, in trigonometry and grammar, the principles and rules are illustrated by examples. Syn. -- Precedent; case; instance. -- Example, Instance. The discrimination to be made between these two words relates to cases in which we give "instances" or "examples" of things done. An instance denotes the single case then "standing" before us; if there be others like it, the word does not express this fact. On the contrary, an example is one of an entire class of like things, and should be a true representative or sample of that class. Hence, an example proves a rule or regular course of things; an instance simply points out what may be true only in the case presented. A man's life may be filled up with examples of the self-command and kindness which marked his character, and may present only a solitary instance of haste or severity. Hence, the word "example" should never be used to describe what stands singly and alone. We do, however, sometimes apply the word instance to what is really an example, because we are not thinking of the latter under this aspect, but solely as a case which "stands before us." See Precedent.

Example

Ex*am"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exampled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Exampling .] To set an example for; to give a precedent for; to exemplify; to give an instance of; to instance. [Obs.] "I may example my digression by some mighty precedent." Shak.

Burke devoted himself to this duty with a fervid assiduity that has not often been exampled, and has never been surpassed.

One or a portion taken to show the character or quality of the whole; a sample; a specimen.

To set an example for; to give a precedent for; to exemplify; to give an instance of; to instance.

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Usage Examples

Example is the best precept.

A jellyfish is little more than a pulsating bell, a tassel of trailing tentacles and a single digestive opening through which it both eats and excretes - as regrettable an example of economy of design as ever was.

Aristotle uses a mother's love for her child as the prime example of love or friendship.

And at the time, it is funny how you can look at something and say, for example with my shoulder injury, when it first happened I said this is the worst thing that could happen to me. Why me, why now? Now I look back and say it was probably the best thing that happened to me.

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next dusting has already been established.

Misspelled Form

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Other Usage Examples

And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.

A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn't have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things they never thought possible.

Example is leadership.

As for leadership, I am the kind who leads reluctantly and more by example than anything else. Someone had to be on the incorporation papers as president.

But you see, our society is still trapped in this binary, black/white logic and that has had some very positive implications for our generation. It's had some very negative ones as well and one of the negative ones is that it creates enormous identity problems for people who have one black ancestor and all white ancestors for example.

But we don't have an example of a democratic society existing in a socialist economy - which is the only real alternative to capitalism in the modern world.

Employee of the month is a good example of how somebody can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.

As a parent and a citizen, I'll take a Bill Gates (or Warren Buffett) over Steve Jobs every time. If we must have billionaires, better they should ignore Jobs's example and instead embrace the morality and wisdom of the great industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.