for instance

5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for for instance, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adverb — Used to introduce an example that illustrates the point just made.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

say

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

for example e.g. such as by way of illustration

How to Use For Instance

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

for instance, if take, for instance consider, for instance

Interchangeable with for example in almost every context, and slightly more conversational. Set off with commas, and note that e.g. is the written abbreviation of for example, not of for instance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between for instance and for example?

There is no difference in meaning, and either can introduce one or several examples. For example is marginally more common in formal writing and has the abbreviation e.g.; for instance sounds a little more spoken.

What is the difference between e.g. and i.e.?

E.g. is short for the Latin exempli gratia and introduces examples, so it matches for instance. I.e. is short for id est and introduces a restatement or clarification, meaning that is. "Citrus fruit, e.g. lemons" versus "citrus fruit, i.e. fruit from the genus Citrus".

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say e.g. such as

Nearby Words

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