Make Your Point > Archived Issues > EXEMPLIFY
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pronounce
EXEMPLIFY:
Say it "egg ZEM plih fy."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
Exemplify is one of those workhorse verbs--common, useful, a bit ugly--that we made from the Latin facere, meaning "to do, or to make."
See if you can recall a few others:
1. To s___ify something is to represent it, to be a sign of it.
2. To f___ify people is to strengthen them in body or spirit.
3. To p__ify people is to make them calm or peaceful.
4. To m___ify people is to soften their hearts or their moods.
5. And a hard one: to s____fy people is to hurt them emotionally, especially with mean comments, as if you're covering them with small cuts or scratches. (Did you say "scratchify"? Not bad, you're close!)
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
When you look closely at the word "example," you can see how it has two Latin roots that, together, literally mean "something taken out." First, the "ex-" part means "out," which explains the resemblance to words like "exit." Second, the "-ample" part comes from a Latin verb meaning "to take," which explains the slight resemblance to words like "exempt," "redemption," "consume," and "presume."
So anyway, take the word "example," fiddle with the spelling a bit, and turn it into a verb: "exemplify."
To exemplify something is to be, show, or give an example of it. In other words, to exemplify something is to be a good example of it, or to provide a good, clear example of it.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech: verb, usually the transitive kind: "their group exemplifies excellent teamwork," "that answer he just gave exemplifies his whole attitude."
Other common forms: exemplified, exemplifying, exemplifier(s), exemplification(s).
how to use it:
This formal, somewhat clunky word helps you strike a serious tone.
Talk about one thing exemplifying another. Comments can exemplify attitudes. Decisions can exemplify priorities or characteristics. Events can exemplify truths, principles, or scientific laws. Certain quotes or passages from texts can exemplify the tone, the mood, or the theme. And so on.
Often we use the passive voice: "this issue was exemplified by that event," "this problem is best exemplified by that company," "their attitude is exemplified by these things they've said and done."
examples:
"Even when they win, they may feel disappointed because the end result does not bring meaning to their life. This is exemplified by the 'post-Olympic blues,' when Olympians experience depression after such a significant accomplishment."
— Benjamin Houltberg and Arianna Uhalde, Salon, 29 December 2019
"And his own pale and worn [face] shone with a happiness and peace which exemplified his maxim that spiritual joy is a sign that grace is present in the soul."
— E. Rameur, The Catholic World, 1865
has this page helped you understand "exemplify"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "exemplify" without saying "represent" or "epitomize."
try it out:
This won't surprise you: the word "exemplify" is perfect for bringing in new examples as you're writing.
Let's see it in action!
A writer for the Los Angeles Times transitions to a new paragraph like this: "Perhaps no area better exemplifies the dramatic turnaround than downtown L.A."
And a writer for the Washington Post does the same thing: "Perhaps no country exemplifies the double standard better than Bolivia."
And--one more--from the New York Times: "Perhaps no one exemplified the split of Latino Democratic voters in Texas heading into Super Tuesday better than the Balcazar family."
Give that a try. Imagine you're writing about something--anything you're passionate about. Fill in the blanks: "Perhaps nothing better exemplifies (the thing I'm already writing about) than (this new example I'll now write about)."
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
This month, our game is "Caption These!"
In each issue this month, caption the images below (A, B, and C) by matching them to the vocabulary words they illustrate (1, 2, and 3). Need a closer look? Give the images a click. And, if you can, explain the exact meaning of each word. I'll share the answers in the following issue. Good luck!
From the previous issue:
Answers:
A: knolling, B: sluice, C: roi soleil.
(To review a word, give it a click.)
Try these today:
1: clarion
2: clairvoyant
3: rococo
review this word:
A. DISPROVE.
B. EXPLICATE.
C. COMPLICATE.
2. _____ exemplifies the American spirit.
A. The flag
B. The bald eagle
C. The peaceful protest
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Exemplify is one of those workhorse verbs--common, useful, a bit ugly--that we made from the Latin facere, meaning "to do, or to make."
When you look closely at the word "example," you can see how it has two Latin roots that, together, literally mean "something taken out." First, the "ex-" part means "out," which explains the resemblance to words like "exit." Second, the "-ample" part comes from a Latin verb meaning "to take," which explains the slight resemblance to words like "exempt," "redemption," "consume," and "presume."
Part of speech: verb, usually the transitive kind: "their group exemplifies excellent teamwork," "that answer he just gave exemplifies his whole attitude."
This formal, somewhat clunky word helps you strike a serious tone.
"Even when they win, they may feel disappointed because the end result does not bring meaning to their life. This is exemplified by the 'post-Olympic blues,' when Olympians experience depression after such a significant accomplishment."
Explain the meaning of "exemplify" without saying "represent" or "epitomize."
This won't surprise you: the word "exemplify" is perfect for bringing in new examples as you're writing.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
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