exterior
gb/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ/ us/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ/
B2
English
~ 6600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
outer surface of something
The outside part or outside surface of something, especially a building or car.
Usage pattern:
the exterior of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "outside" when they mean the outside surface of a building, for example saying *the outside of the house paint* instead of *the exterior paint of the house*. "Exterior" is more natural in technical or careful descriptions of buildings, cars, or design, especially when talking about surfaces and structure.
Synonyms
outside (More informal and general; often used for open space as well as surfaces, while "exterior" is more formal and often used for buildings and objects.)
Antonyms
interior (Refers to the inside part of something, which is the opposite of its exterior.)
Collocations
building's exterior
|exterior of the house
|exterior walls
|exterior paint
|exterior surface
|exterior design
Themes
architecture
|daily life
|travel
|core_vocabulary
|housing
|transportation
Examples
- The building's exterior was covered in glass and steel.
- We need to repaint the exterior of the house before winter.
- The car's exterior was badly damaged in the accident.
- Security cameras are installed on the exterior of the warehouse.
- From the street, the hotel's exterior looks very modern.
Learner examples
- The exterior of the house is white.
- They cleaned the exterior of the car.
- The shop has a very simple exterior.
- Workers repaired the exterior of the old church.
- She took photos of the castle's exterior.
adjective
B2
property
2
on the outside of something
On the outside part of something, especially a building or car.
Usage pattern:
exterior [wall/door/surface/lighting]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"outside wall"* or *"outside door"* in formal writing where *"exterior wall"* or *"exterior door"* is more natural in technical or professional contexts. They also confuse "exterior" with "external"; both are correct in many cases, but "exterior" is preferred for buildings and design, while "external" is more common in technical, medical, or organizational contexts (e.g. external hard drive, external pressure).
Synonyms
external (Very similar in meaning, but often slightly more technical or scientific; "exterior" is especially common for buildings and design.)
Antonyms
interior (Describes something on the inside of a building or object, the opposite of "exterior".)
Collocations
exterior wall
|exterior door
|exterior lighting
|exterior paint
|exterior design
|exterior surface
Themes
architecture
|construction
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|housing
|transportation
Examples
- The exterior walls need better insulation.
- We chose a darker color for the exterior paint.
- The house has strong exterior doors with extra locks.
- Exterior lighting makes the garden safer at night.
- The architect focused on the exterior design of the museum.
Learner examples
- They added new exterior lights by the door.
- The exterior wall is made of brick.
- We must replace the old exterior doors.
- This paint is only for exterior use.
- Exterior windows were cleaned yesterday.
Noun
C1
entity
3
outward appearance or manner
The way a person looks or acts on the outside, especially when this is not the same as how they feel inside.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s [adjective] exterior
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand this meaning and think it only refers to physical looks. In this sense, "exterior" often includes behavior and manner, especially in phrases like "tough exterior" or "calm exterior", and it usually suggests a contrast with true inner feelings.
Synonyms
outward appearance (Very close in meaning but slightly broader; can refer more to looks, while "exterior" here often suggests both looks and behavior that may hide true feelings.)
Antonyms
inner self (Refers to a person's true feelings and character, which are hidden behind their exterior.)
Collocations
calm exterior
|tough exterior
|cold exterior
|hard exterior
|cheerful exterior
Themes
emotions
|personality
|social
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- Despite his tough exterior, he is very kind-hearted.
- Her calm exterior hid a great deal of anxiety.
- He uses a cold exterior to keep people at a distance.
- Beneath her cheerful exterior, she was deeply worried about the future.
- His friendly exterior makes it hard to see how insecure he really is.
Learner examples
- She has a calm exterior, but she is nervous inside.
- He shows a tough exterior at work.
- Her warm exterior helps new people feel welcome.
- Behind his quiet exterior, he is very funny.
- Many people hide their feelings behind a happy exterior.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
outdoor scenes in film/TV
In film or TV, the outdoor places where scenes are filmed.
Usage pattern:
the exteriors were shot in [place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this is just the normal plural of "exterior" meaning outside parts. In film and TV, however, "exteriors" is a technical term specifically for outdoor scenes or locations used in shooting.
Synonyms
outdoor locations (More general and informal; does not carry the specific film-industry sense of planned, shot scenes that "exteriors" has.)
Antonyms
interiors (In film and TV, this refers to indoor sets or indoor locations, the opposite of outdoor "exteriors".)
Collocations
shoot exteriors
|location exteriors
|daytime exteriors
|city exteriors
Themes
film
|media
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Most of the exteriors were filmed on location in Rome.
- The director decided to reshoot the nighttime exteriors for better lighting.
- They used a studio set for the interiors and a nearby village for the exteriors.
- The movie's exteriors give it a very realistic, urban feel.
Learner examples
- They filmed the exteriors of the movie in Paris.
- The interiors were made in a studio, but the exteriors were real streets.
- The exteriors took many days to shoot.
- The city exteriors make the film look modern.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exterior
IPA
GB/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ/
US/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ/
Syllables & stress
ex - ter - i - or (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ter)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: exterior
Noun
- Base: exterior
- Plural: exteriors
Word family
Forms
exteriors
noun
Core family
external
adjective B1
externally
adverb
Related words
externalize
verb
externalization
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
exteriorize
verb
Expressions
calm exterior
1/kˈɑm ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ/
fixed phrase
outwardly calm manner
A way of looking and acting that seems calm, even if the person does not feel calm inside.
Examples
- She maintained a calm exterior throughout the interview, even though she was very nervous.
- Behind his calm exterior, he worried about every small detail.
exterior angle
1/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ ˈæŋɡəl/
fixed phrase
technical
angle outside a polygon
In geometry, an angle that is outside a shape and is made when one side of the shape is extended.
Examples
- In a triangle, each exterior angle is equal to the sum of the two opposite interior angles.
- Students often confuse exterior angles with interior angles when solving geometry problems.
exterior door
1/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ dˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
door leading to the outside
A door that goes from the inside of a building directly to the outside.
Examples
- All exterior doors must be locked at night.
- They installed a new exterior door with better security.
exterior shot
1/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ ʃˈɑt/
fixed phrase
technical
outdoor filmed scene
A part of a film or TV show that is filmed outside a building or in an outdoor place.
Examples
- The director chose a wide exterior shot to show the whole city skyline.
- They filmed the exterior shots in the old part of town.
exterior wall
1/ɪkstˈɪɹiɚ wˈɔl/
fixed phrase
wall on outside of a building
A wall that is on the outside of a building and separates the inside from the open air.
Examples
- We need to add more insulation to the exterior wall.
- The exterior walls were damaged during the storm.