exterior

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​te·​ri·​or ek-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce exterior (audio)
1
: being on an outside surface : situated on the outside
2
: observable by outward signs
his exterior quietness is belied by an occasional nervous twitchCurrent Biography
3
: suitable for use on outside surfaces
exteriorly adverb

exterior

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an exterior part or surface : outside
b
: outward manner or appearance
2
: a representation (as on stage or film) of an outdoor scene
also : a scene filmed outdoors

Examples of exterior in a Sentence

Adjective the house's exterior walls badly need to be painted Noun The building has a rather plain exterior. the exterior of the tooth consists of very hard enamel
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
On his Instagram, Pardo announced the ways in which the city was helping to mitigate Afterlife’s noise levels for the final night; e.g., lowering the bass and shutting down some exterior speakers. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024 The modern design is composed of a series of angular areas around an exterior courtyard. Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2024 This iteration is designed in quilted, water-repellent nylon and features both exterior and interior pockets. Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 Crews started putting up steel in February and will be placing exterior concrete panels on the first building in April, according to Meta spokesperson Melanie Roe. Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 22 Mar. 2024 Six of the top 10 items that increase a home's value are exterior features, with an outdoor TV bringing the highest premium of 3.1%. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024 The device collected milk inside a bra insert rather than an exterior container. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 The Salish Lodge stood in for the Great Northern in exterior shots, while interiors were filmed at the Kiana Lodge (14976 Sandy Hook Rd NE, Poulsbo, Wash.), nearly two hours away on the other side of Seattle. Katie Rife, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2024 Businesses have installed exterior cameras and limit operating hours when necessarily. Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Mar. 2024
Noun
Its current design replaces a 2019 concept by MAD Architects, which featured a funicular railway that wrapped its exterior. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024 Its water-resistant polyester exterior holds up like a dream with extended use and the padded straps and even weight distribution make for an easy wear that doesn’t put strain on your back. David Moses, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024 The exterior of his boards used sustainable materials like jute, hemp, bioresin, basalt and repurposed wood. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024 The exteriors of most of the Jiffy Lube locations in Indiana have murals painted by local artists. The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024 The Huskies won by slipping through the tough exterior of a bold Syracuse, program playing in its first Final Four. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 This lightweight, hooded coat is great for summer showers thanks to the breathable mesh lining and 100% nylon exterior. Maya Polton, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 The exterior is a testament to the skill of Van der Valk’s aluminum shapers and welders. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024 Passengers are supposed to report any damage to the exterior or interior of the vehicle during their ride and could be held responsible for that damage if it’s discovered at a later time, according to the terms of service. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exterior.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin, comparative of exter, exterus being on the outside, foreign, from ex

First Known Use

Adjective

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of exterior was in 1528

Dictionary Entries Near exterior

Cite this Entry

“Exterior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exterior. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exterior

1 of 2 adjective
ex·​te·​ri·​or ek-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce exterior (audio)
1
: situated on the outside
2
3
: suitable for use on outside surfaces
exterior paint
exteriorly adverb

exterior

2 of 2 noun
1
: an exterior part or surface : outside
2
: visible manner or appearance
a calm exterior

Medical Definition

exterior

adjective
ex·​te·​ri·​or ek-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce exterior (audio)
: being on an outside surface : situated on the outside
exteriorly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on exterior

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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