Exhibit vs Showing

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Exhibit

Formal Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Showing

Top 1,000 (very common)

Most formal: Exhibit Most common: Showing

	Exhibit	Showing
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ɪɡˈzɪbɪt// 🇺🇸 //ɪɡˈzɪbɪt//	🇬🇧 //ˈʃəʊɪŋ// 🇺🇸 //ˈʃoʊɪŋ//
Meaning	To show something publicly.	Making something visible or clear
Example	The museum will exhibit ancient artifacts from Egypt.	The teacher is showing the students how to solve the math problem.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	exhibit art, exhibit evidence, exhibit a collection	showing interest, showing off, showing signs, showing respect, showing up
Antonyms	conceal, hide, suppress	hiding, concealing, keeping secret
Common mistakes	Confused with 'display' - 'display' is more common in everyday usage., Using 'exhibit' when referring to personal belongings - it's typically for art or science displays., Using 'exhibited' instead of 'exhibited' in past contexts.	Confusing with 'showed' for past actions., Using 'showing' without a clear object can sound incomplete., Misunderstanding its meaning in phrases like 'showing up' (arriving).
Usage notes	Use 'exhibit' in formal contexts like museums or academic presentations. It may sound too elaborate in casual conversations.	Used to indicate making something visible or providing information; appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.

See it in real clips

and the rest is just for showing off.

Breaking Bad › S1 E1

She's not showing at all, is she?

Top Gear › S1 E1

in the edit suite. We'll be showing it later.

and the rest is just for showing off.

Breaking Bad › S1 E1

She's not showing at all, is she?

Showing

Frequently asked questions: Exhibit vs Showing

What's the difference between Exhibit and Showing?

Exhibit: To show something publicly. Showing: Making something visible or clear

Which is more formal: Exhibit and Showing?

Exhibit is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Exhibit and Showing?

Showing is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Exhibit: The museum will exhibit ancient artifacts from Egypt. Showing: The teacher is showing the students how to solve the math problem.

Can I use Exhibit and Showing interchangeably?

Not always. Exhibit and Showing are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.