exemplify

verb

ex·​em·​pli·​fy ig-ˈzem-plə-ˌfī 

exemplified; exemplifying

transitive verb

1

: to show or illustrate by example

anecdotes exemplifying those virtues

2

: to make an attested copy or transcript of (a document) under seal

3

a

: to be an instance of or serve as an example : embody

she exemplifies the qualities of a good leader

b

: to be typical of

a dish that exemplifies French cuisine

Synonyms

• demonstrate
• illustrate
• instance

Examples of exemplify in a Sentence

His works exemplify the taste of the period.

The city's economic growth is exemplified by the many new buildings that are currently under construction.

Recent Examples on the Web

An onlooker snapped a picture, which seemed to exemplify the lawlessness that is inherent to why some people love sideshows and others hate them. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

His wartime London contains worlds within worlds, many of them unexpected, as Rita and George in their ways exemplify the old British mantra of keeping calm and carrying on, even when doing so seems impossible. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

The annual pace of price increases is nudging ever closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target , a trend likely to be exemplified Thursday when the Commerce Department releases its own inflation numbers at 8:30 a.m. ET. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024

Amazon’s willingness to experiment and shift direction in response to real-time data exemplifies emergent strategy at scale. 2. —Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English exemplifien, from Anglo-French exemplifier, from Medieval Latin exemplificare, from Latin exemplum

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

exemplify

verb

ex·​em·​pli·​fy ig-ˈzem-plə-ˌfī 

exemplified; exemplifying

1

: to show by example

the story exemplifies the virtue of generosity

2

: to serve as an example of

she exemplifies a good leader

exemplification

-ˌzem-plə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun