verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

export

EHKS-pawt

Export (verb) means to sell or send goods to another country. Example: “The country exports most of its coffee to Europe.”

verb

To sell or send goods to another country.

"The country exports most of its coffee to Europe."

"They plan to export the new model to overseas markets next year."

To save data from one program or system so it can be used in another.

"You can export the spreadsheet as a PDF."

noun

A product sent abroad to be sold, or the act of sending it.

"Oil is the country's biggest export."

How to use export

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo send goods (or data) out of one country, program, or system into another.

Easily confused with

import →

Common pairings

export goods export data ban on exports

Word forms

exported past tense, exports plural, exports singular

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Test yourself on “export” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The country _____ most of its coffee to Europe.

Etymology

From Latin exportare, "to carry out or away" — from ex- ("out") plus portare ("to carry").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

ship dispatch output transfer save send abroad

Antonyms

import importation

Related words

keep move production send kill save message store

Frequently asked questions

What does “export” mean?

The word “export” means to sell or send goods to another country. In plain terms, to send goods (or data) out of one country, program, or system into another.

How do you pronounce “export”?

“Export” is pronounced EHKS-pawt (/ˈɛks.pɔɹt/ in IPA).

How do you use “export” in a sentence?

Here is “export” used in a sentence: “The country exports most of its coffee to Europe.”

What is the opposite of “export”?

The opposite of “export” — its antonyms — are import and importation.

What part of speech is “export”?

Depending on how it is used, “export” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “export” come from?

The word “export” comes from Latin. From Latin exportare, "to carry out or away" — from ex- ("out") plus portare ("to carry").

Is “export” a common word?

“Export” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “export” have?

“Export” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to sell or send goods to another country.

What is the difference between "export" and "import"?

To "export" is to sell or send goods out to another country. To "import" is the opposite: to bring goods in from another country, so exports leave and imports arrive.

Is "export" stressed differently as a noun and a verb?

Yes. As a verb, "export" is stressed on the second syllable (ex-PORT), while as a noun it is stressed on the first syllable (EX-port). This shifting stress pattern is common among English words that work as both noun and verb.

What preposition is used with "export"?

You export goods "to" a country and export data "to" or "as" a particular format, as in "export the file to PDF." You export something "from" its source.

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