example

Universal Words noun 1 ~ (of sth) something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say: Can you give me an example of what you mean? * It is important to cite examples to support your argument. * I shall take four different examples from contemporary literature to illustrate my point. * This dictionary has many examples of how words are used. * Just to give you an example of his generosity-he gave me his old car and wouldn't take any money for it. 2 ~ (of sth) a thing that is typical of or represents a particular group or set: This is a good example of the artist's early work. * It is a perfect example of a medieval castle. * Japan is often quoted as the prime example of a modern industrial nation. * It is a classic example of how not to design a new city centre. 3 ~ (to sb) a person or their behaviour that is thought to be a good model for others to copy: Her courage is an example to us all. * He sets an example to the other students. * She is a shining example of what people with disabilities can achieve. * He is a captain who leads by example. 4 a person's behaviour, either good or bad, that other people copy: It would be a mistake to follow his example. IDIOMS for example (abbreviation e.g.) used to emphasize sth that explains or supports what you are saying; used to give an example of what you are saying: There is a similar word in many languages, for example in French and Italian. * The report is incomplete; it does not include sales in France, for example. * It is possible to combine Computer Science with other subjects, for example Physics. make an example of sb to punish sb as a warning to others not to do the same thing