From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishexampleex‧am‧ple /ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl $ ɪɡˈzæm-/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1 EXAMPLEa specific fact, idea, person, or thing that is used to explain or support a general idea, or to show what is typical of a larger groupexample of Can anyone give me an example of a transitive verb?2 → for example3 someone whose behaviour is very good and should be copied by others, or this type of behaviourexample to Her courage is an example to us all. Parents should set an example for their children. I suggest you follow Rosie’s example (=copy her behaviour) and start doing regular exercise. The team captain leads by example. She’s a shining example (=a very good example) of what a mother should be.4 → make an example of somebodyCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a specific fact, idea, person, or thing that is used to explain or support a general idea, or to show what is typical of a larger groupadjectivesa good/typical exampleThis painting is a good example of his early work.a fine/excellent exampleThe house is a fine example of a medieval building.an outstanding example (=extremely good)The garden is one of the most outstanding examples of traditional Japanese garden design.a classic/perfect/prime example (=very typical)This is a classic example of how not to run a business.The pot is a perfect example of the Marine Style.This is a prime example of government incompetence.an obvious exampleOur climate is changing at an alarming rate. The melting of the polar ice caps is an obvious example of this.a blatant/glaring example (=very obvious and very bad)His case is a blatant example of the unfairness of the current system.an extreme exampleTo give you an extreme example, one lady called the police fifteen times in a single evening.a notable example formal (=important and worth mentioning)Some places contain a huge variety of animal and plant life. The two most notable examples are tropical forests and coral reefs. a graphic example (=very clear and full of unpleasant details)The film is full of graphic examples of what can go wrong if the proper safety procedures are not followed.verbsgive (somebody) an exampleLet me give you an example of how this might happen.provide an exampleOur brochure provides examples of the different villas on offer.take an example (=consider it or talk about it)Let’s take the example of a family with two school-age children.use an exampleHe used several examples to illustrate his point.cite an example (=mention an example)The report cites the example of Sweden, where there is a complete ban on advertising on children's television.find an exampleWe found examples of people being overcharged by as much as 50%.contain/include an exampleThe exhibition also contains some examples of his book illustrations.an example shows/illustrates somethingThese examples show how the disease can be passed on to humans. THESAURUSexample something that you mention because it is typical of the kind of thing that you are talking aboutThe hall is a perfect example of medieval architecture.There are many ways in which technology has changed our lives. The car is an obvious example.This painting is a typical example of Picasso’s work in his Blue Period.case an example of something that happens, especially something badThere have been some cases of women employees being fired because they are pregnant.In one case a man was charged $2,000 for a simple medical check-up.Recent government spending on schools is a classic case of too little, too late.instance an example of a particular kind of situation or event, especially something bad. Instance is more formal than caseSome users of Ecstasy have actually died, but such instances are very rare.The report describes instances of discrimination.In a few rare instances, the disease can cause death.illustration something, especially a story or situation, that you use as an example As an illustration of this, consider the following example. He mentioned the recent events in the Middle East by way of illustration (=as an example).what you say when giving examplesfor example used when giving an examplePrices have risen sharply. The price of gasoline, for example, has risen by over 50%.Nepal has many attractions for visitors. For example, you can go trekking in the Himalayas, or see tigers in Chitwan National Park.for instance used when giving an example. For instance is slightly less formal than for example and is used more in spoken EnglishThere were many unanswered questions. For instance, where was the money going to come from?Some people are really good at languages. Take Katie, for instance.eg/e.g. written used when giving an example or a list of examples. Don’t use eg in formal writing – use the full phrase for exampleMake sure you eat foods that contain protein, e.g. meat, fish, eggs, milk, or cheese.such as especially written used when giving one or two typical examples when there are many othersIt is difficult to get even basic foods such as bread and sugar.take spoken used when giving a particular example as a way of proving that what you are saying is correctTake John – he has a good job but he didn’t go to university.It is possible to recover from some types of cancer. Take skin cancer, for example.be a case in point used when emphasizing that someone or something is a good or typical example of what you have just mentionedSome birds have returned to Britain after once being extinct here. The return of the osprey is a case in point. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: someone whose behaviour is very good and should be copied by others, or this type of behaviourverbsset an example (=show by your own behaviour how other people should behave)You should be setting an example for your little brother.follow somebody’s example (=copy someone’s behaviour)I tried to follow my parent’s example with my own kids.lead by example (=show people what they should do by doing it yourself)The captain of the team should lead by example.hold somebody up as an example (=use someone as a good example of something)He was held up as an example to the younger athletes.adjectivesa good/positive exampleThe older boys should set a positive example for the rest of the school.a shining example (=a very good example)Professor Squires was a shining example of what a good teacher should be.an inspiring example (=someone who makes other people want to do something great or good)Jenny’s story is an inspiring example of courage in the face of adversity.
Examples from the Corpus
example• As the eldest in the family, she was expected to be an example to her younger brothers and sisters.• The feeling of inadequacy, but of having to cope, is an example of a tension.• Attitude problems? Can you give me an example?• Max is a classic example of a man who can't control his ambition.• That's an extreme example of the volatility, but it shows how brutal the market has been, analysts said.• The temperature gradient just above the core would become much steeper, for example, causing a much hotter boundary layer.• Some activities are too expensive for poorer children to take part in. Horseriding is a good example.• The church is an interesting example of the Gothic style.• There are many ways in which technology has changed our lives. The car is an obvious example.• Unfortunately, the Treatises tended to bore their readers through the sheer number of examples cited.• Hitler, Mussolini, Franco: all prime examples of men hungry for power.• The school is a shining example of what parent-teacher co-operation can achieve.• Already the new roundabout on Glasgow Road is a striking example of the high standards being sought.• This example illustrates again the important difference between semantic constraints and these sorts of pragmatic constraints.• This painting is a typical example of Picasso's work in his Blue Period.• Typical examples of instructions and warnings can be found on household paints.set an example• Senior officers should be setting a good example for the men.• He can set an example, just like I can, about what it means to be a professional player.• If Saunders is sincere about reform, he should set an example by taking a pay cut.• Like anyone in a leadership role, though, I suppose I should set an example.• Parents should set a good example for their children by being active and keeping fit.• How does that set an example to countries that he wishes to discourage from adopting nuclear deterrence?• Every writer had to set an example, and not only in words.• But a judge in Eberswalde said it was not his job to set an example.• The beech hedge is trying to set an example by maturing.• Poor neighbourhoods, argues Mr Wilson, have lost great numbers of working people who used to set examples to local children.• He was a veteran who would set an example for the youngsters.Origin example (1300-1400) Old French Latin exemplum, from eximere “to take out” 