4 syllables: ex, hib, it, ed. Stress on hib.
ig-ZIB-uh-tuhd
/ɪˈɡzɪbətəd/
exhibited is pronounced ig-ZIB-uh-tuhd (/ɪˈɡzɪbətəd/). It has four syllables (ex-hib-it-ed), with the stress on "hib". Exhibited is the past-tense and past participle of exhibit, meaning to shown or displayed in a public or formal setting. It describes something that has been put on view or demonstrated, often with evidence or proof presented. In usage, it can reference physical displays, performances, or the act of presenting information. The word emphasizes presentation and visibility in a concrete context.
Exhibited is the past-tense and past participle of exhibit, meaning to shown or displayed in a public or formal setting. It describes something that has been put on view or demonstrated, often with evidence or proof presented. In usage, it can reference physical displays, performances, or the act of presenting information. The word emphasizes presentation and visibility in a concrete context.
- Misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (ex-HIB-ited) instead of ig-ZIB-i-ted. Solution: mentally mark the second syllable as the nucleus and say the word in a steady three-beat rhythm: ig-ZIB-i-ted. - Letting the /ɡ/ and /z/ merge or become a softer /z/; keep the /ɡ/ closed and the /z/ audible before the /ɪ/. - Slurring the ending into a quick /d/ or dropping the final /d/; ensure a clean /tɪd/ or /ɪd/ depending on the following word. Practice with slow, precise phoneme isolation, then increase speed while maintaining clarity.
"The gallery exhibited a collection of modern sculptures."
"During the conference, she exhibited data supporting the theory."
"The museum exhibited artifacts from the ancient civilization."
You pronounce it ig-ZIB-i-tid in careful speech, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪɡˈzɪbɪtɪd/. Start with a light /ɪ/ then a clear /ɡ/ stop, lift into /ˈzɪ/ where the vowel is a short, tense i, then /bɪ/ with a voiced bilabial stop, and end with a light /tɪd/ followed by a soft /d/ if linked. In careful enunciation, the final -ed is /ɪd/ or /tɪd/ depending on the following consonant.”,
Common errors include misplacing the stress (trying ex- HIB- ited), reducing /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and slurring the /t/ with the following /ɪ/ sound. Correct by ensuring the primary stress sits on the second syllable: ig-ZIB-i-ted, keeping /z/ clear, and articulating the /t/ clearly before the final /ɪd/ or /ɪt/ sequence. Practice with slow phoneme-by-phoneme enunciation and then blend into a smooth scale.”,
In US, UK, and AU, the core /ɡˈzɪbɪt/ cluster stays stable, but rhoticity can affect surrounding vowels; US tends to be rhotic with a slightly rounded initial /ɡz/ cluster, UK can have crisper /z/ and a more clipped /ɪ/ in the second syllable, while AU often mirrors UK with non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech and lighter /ɪ/ vowels. The ending /ɪd/ or /ɪt/ remains sensitive to cadence and following word.”,
The difficulty lies in the /ɡz/ cluster after the initial vowel, followed by a rapid /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a final /ɪd/ or /ɪt/ sequence that changes with speed. The liaison between /z/ and /ɪ/ and the subtle vowel shifts in fast speech challenge non-native speakers. Emphasize the second syllable’s short, crisp /ɪ/ and clearly enunciate the /t/ before the final /ɪd/ when speaking carefully.
A unique aspect is the consonant cluster /gz/ in the second syllable, which can fuse in rapid speech to something like /gzɪbɪ/ or even slightly reduce the /z/ in very casual speech. Maintaining a distinct /z/ before the /ɪ/ helps preserve the word’s integrity. Also watch the vowel length in the second syllable; keep it short and tense to avoid turning it into a longer /iː/.”],
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- US: rhotic; mirror a looser /ɪ/ in unstressed vowels, keep /ɡz/ crisp, and maintain a full /d/ at the end when the following word starts with a consonant. - UK: crisper consonant enunciation, shorter vowel in /ɪ/ and tighter termination; avoid over-rounding the /ɪ/ in ig-ZIB-i-ted. - AU: similar to UK in non-rhotic contexts; focus on precise /z/ and final /d/ or /t/ depending on context; ensure vowel length is natural rather than elongated. Reference IPA: /ɪɡˈzɪbɪtɪd/ for all three accents in careful speech.
Exhibited derives from exhibit, which comes from the Latin exhibere, meaning to hold up, display, or show forth. The prefix ex- indicates outward or forth, while hibere is related to holding or bringing. The term entered English in the late Middle Ages through Old/French influence, aligning with other display-related words. The modern use crystallized in the 17th–18th centuries as venues like galleries and museums adopted the term for items placed for public viewing. The transformation from a general act of holding forth to a specific public display reflects the expansion of organized exhibitions in science, art, and commerce. Over time, exhibited evolved to describe both the act (to exhibit) and its finished result (an exhibited item), maintaining a formal connotation in documentation and discourse. The word’s participial form, exhibited, is common in academic and professional writing to characterize past display or demonstration, contributing to its precise, objective tone in reporting findings or artifacts.
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Words that rhyme with "exhibited"
-dit sounds
-mit sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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