(1) 例子，实例 (something that shows clearly or illustrates a fact) [C]：～of sb's selfishness 某人自私自利的例子; give(sb)/cite an～of (给某人)举个例子; have～s of... 有 …… 的实例; write an～on the blackboard 在黑板上写一个例句; That was but one～of his kindness. 那仅仅是他善良的一个例子。

(2) 范例，样(标)本 (something that represents other things of the same kind;specimen) [C]：an～of his handwriting/of Turner's painting/of early Greek sculpture/of how to design a building 他的书法/特纳绘画/希腊早期雕塑/如何设计建筑的范例(典范); 〖同〗 sample，illustration，representation;〖反〗contradiction;

(3) 榜样，模范，典型(person or thing that is a pattern to be copied; model) [C，U]：an～of dedication 奉献的典型; be an～to the rest of the class (us all)/for someone to follow 为班上的其他同学(我们大家)作出榜样/成为某人学习的榜样; follow one's～/the～of sb 以某人为榜样; take sb/sth as an～以某人为榜样/以某事为典型;look up to sb as a shining～将某人尊为模范; 〖同〗pattern，model，standard;

(4) 儆戒;警告 (someone or something that serves or is intended to serve as a warning) [C]： send sb to prison as an～to the others 将某人关进监狱以儆戒别人; (be)meant to be～s to sb 想(将其)作为对某人的儆戒; Let his punishment be an～to you. 让他所受的惩罚成为对你的儆戒吧。

(take)for example 以 …… 为例：Several European countries have no sea-coast—for～， Switzerland and Austria. 有几个欧洲国家没有海岸线，比如瑞士和奥地利。

make an example of sb 惩罚某人以儆他人：The teacher made an～of the boy who copied from another student during a test. 老师惩罚了那个在考试中抄袭别人试卷的孩子以儆戒其他学生。

set (sb) an example/set an example to sb 树立榜样：You should set a good～to your younger sister. 你应该为妹妹作个好榜样。

teach by example 以身作则：In doing so，they mean to teach by～. 他们这样做是要以身作则。

without example (beyond example) 没有先例：Such cold weather in July is without～in our town. 7月的天气这么冷在我们这个镇子还没有先例。

【辨异】 1) example与sample和specimen均指样品(本)。example 表示任何人或事物的普遍的原则或性质，如：a typical example of Gothic architecture (哥特式建筑的典型);sample 指可以说明整个事情性质的某件东西或某类东西的一部分，如：take a sample for examination and test (取样检验);而specimen则通常指科研目的的样品，如：collect insect specimens (收集昆虫标本)。2) example与case¹、instance和illustration的区别见CASE¹。