display

dis-PLAY/dɪsˈpleɪ/

Verbdisplays, displaying, displayed

Noun pluraldisplays (some meanings)

13 meanings of display

Practice

1
show (things)verbtransitive
To show something so that it is easy to see or notice, such as goods in a window, words on a screen, or a feeling or quality in the way one acts.
Galleries across the city display her photographs each spring.
Throughout the negotiations, he displayed remarkable patience.
Similarshow, exhibit, demonstrate, reveal, showcase
Oppositehide, conceal, mask, disguise
2
noununcountable
The public showing of objects so that people can view them; often in the phrase on display.
The jeweler keeps its most expensive rings on display behind thick glass.
The display of the ancient manuscripts drew record crowds to the university library.
UsageUsually on display: things are on display, go on display, or are put on display.
Similarexhibition, showing, show
3
screennouncountable
An electronic screen, such as on a monitor, phone, or instrument panel, that shows graphics or text.
The laptop's display went dark in the middle of the presentation.
High-resolution displays make small text much easier to read.
Similarscreen, monitor
Note
Computing uses the word for the hardware itself: the panel on a laptop, phone or instrument cluster where text and images appear. Keep it apart from the presentation of information, which names what appears rather than the screen it appears on.
4
nouncountable
An outward expression of a feeling, quality or ability, frequently one that other people can clearly notice.
The senator's rare public display of emotion made headlines the next morning.
Both goalkeepers put on remarkable displays of courage in the final.
UsageUsually followed by of: a display of anger, courage or skill. In sport, a team puts on a display.
Similarshow, demonstration, expression, manifestation
5
a show to watchnouncountable
A show or spectacle staged for people to watch.
The air show ended with a spectacular display of formation flying.
Thousands of people gathered along the river for the city's fireworks display.
UsageOften in compounds such as fireworks display, or with of: a display of dancing.
Similarshow, spectacle, demonstration, performance
6
store standnouncountable
A stand, piece of furniture, or marketing-oriented bulk packaging used to present merchandise for sales promotion.
The publisher shipped a cardboard display that holds twenty copies of the novel.
Store managers rearranged the end-of-aisle displays before the holiday rush.
Similarstand, rack, showcase
7
nouncountable
A piece of work, such as a poster or exhibit, created to be presented visually.
The library's new display traces the history of local printing.
Volunteers spent the weekend assembling displays for the museum's anniversary.
Similarexhibit, installation
8
noununcountable
The presentation of information for visual or tactile reception, as on a screen or a braille reader.
The spreadsheet's display of negative numbers in red makes losses easy to spot.
Researchers compared audio output with tactile display of the same map data.
Similarpresentation, rendering, representation, visualization
Note
Here the word names an act rather than an object: the way information is laid out for the eye or, just as properly, for the fingertip. Because it covers braille and other touch output, it reaches beyond what appears on a screen.

Less common meanings

9
show off (animals)verbintransitive
To put on a show or demonstration; especially, of an animal, to show off its body or behavior to attract a mate or warn a rival.
Male frigatebirds display by inflating their bright red throat pouches.
In early spring, male grouse gather at dawn to display in front of the watching hens.
Similarposture, preen, strut, pose
Note
Without an object, the verb turns into behavior: showing off, swaggering, making a demonstration of oneself. In King Lear, Shakespeare's fellow who "displayed so saucily against your Highness" is not showing anything in particular. He is acting out insolence toward someone. The performance itself is the display, which is why no object is needed, and against marks the person it is aimed at.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
King Lear is a play by William Shakespeare. folger.edu
The quoted words occur in King Lear, Act 2, scene 4. Kent speaks them to Lear about Goneril’s messenger; the messenger is not the speaker. folger.edu
10
large typeverbdatedtransitive
To make text conspicuous by setting it in large or prominent type.
Editors chose to display the verdict in seventy-two-point type.
The broadsheet displayed the casualty lists in heavy black capitals.
Similarsplash, feature, highlight, emphasize
Note
Printers' language: to display a line is to set it big enough to stop the eye, as in a headline, a poster title or an advertisement. The verb is dated in this use. The idea now survives mostly in the noun phrase display type. In ordinary writing, saying a headline was set in large type avoids being read as "exhibited."
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
In printing, displaying text means making it conspicuous through large or prominent type. en.wiktionary.org
Headlines, poster titles and advertisements are examples of display typography. en.wikipedia.org
11
verbobsolete
To spread something out or unfurl it, as one would a flag or banner.
Similarunfurl, spread, splay
Note
The sense that sits closest to the word's origin: Latin dis- "apart" plus plicare "to fold," so to display was to unfold. Spenser's The Faerie Queene (1590) has a weary traveler who lets "his wearie limbes display," stretching out to rest. Splay is a near synonym. The sense is obsolete, and the same unfolding image lies behind the military "deploy" verb.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
Display ultimately derives from Latin dis- meaning 'apart' and plicare meaning 'to fold', with the underlying meaning 'unfold'. en.wiktionary.org
Edmund Spenser wrote The Faerie Queene, whose first three books, including the quoted passage in Book II, first appeared in 1590. en.wikipedia.org
The quotation is exact and describes a weary traveler stretching out beside a stream to rest. talus.artsci.wustl.edu
Deploy shares the etymological image of unfolding. en.wiktionary.org
12
verbobsolete
To discover or catch sight of something, especially at a distance; to descry.
And from his seat took pleasure to display / The city so adorned with towers.
[1611?], Homer, The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets
Note
The meaning runs backward from the modern verb: instead of showing something, the subject catches sight of it. In George Chapman's translation of Homer's Iliad, a watcher "took pleasure to display / The city so adorned with towers," taking in the view from his seat. The sense is obsolete. In modern prose, descry or make out does the job without being misread as "exhibit."
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
George Chapman translated Homer's Iliad. gutenberg.org
The quoted wording occurs in Chapman's translation, with modernized spelling. en.wiktionary.org
The passage describes a seated observer taking in the view; the observer is Jove, described by the narrator. gutenberg.org
13
verb
To deploy troops by spreading a column sideways into a broad line.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of display apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Its root is Medieval Latin displicare ("to unfold, display"), built from Latin dis- ("apart") and plicāre ("to fold"). The word reached English through Old French despleier and then Middle English displayen. Deploy is a doublet of it.