External Meaning
External Definition & Usage
Located or situated on the outer side of something.
Examples
- "She wore a coat to protect herself from the cold, with the external fabric keeping the wind at bay."
- "The external walls of the castle were made of stone, designed to withstand siege attacks."
- "The external surface of the tree bark was rough and weathered from years of exposure."
- "The external appearance of the car was sleek, with a glossy finish that reflected the sunlight."
- "The external view from the apartment was breathtaking, with mountains visible in the distance."
Not directly involved or connected to something; peripheral or outside the core group.
Examples
- "Her external contributions to the project were valuable, even though she wasn't part of the core team."
- "The committee discussed various external factors influencing the decision, including economic trends."
- "His external appearance seemed calm, but internally he was nervous about the presentation."
- "The external pressure from the market forced the company to adjust its strategy."
- "Many external influences, such as media and public opinion, affected the politician's stance on the issue."
Something that is situated on the outside of an object or structure.
Examples
- "The company specializes in manufacturing external devices for computers."
- "She attached an external hard drive to her laptop for extra storage."
- "The camera's external lens was designed for high-definition photography."
- "The external of the car had a few scratches, but it still looked great overall."
- "External factors, like the weather, could impact the event’s schedule."
Cultural Context
The word 'external' originates from the Latin word 'externus,' meaning 'outer' or 'outside.' It is widely used in both physical and metaphorical contexts. In technical fields, such as computing, 'external' is used to describe hardware or devices that are not integrated within a system but can be connected to it.
The External Forces
Story
The External Forces
At the beginning of the week, Emily had a large project presentation scheduled. Though she had been working tirelessly on the content, the external pressures from her colleagues began to weigh heavily on her. They all had differing opinions on how the presentation should unfold. Her manager kept pushing for more data-driven slides, while the design team suggested a more visual approach. Despite these external opinions, Emily felt the core of her project was strong and stayed true to her original plan. On the morning of the presentation, as she prepared, she noticed the external weather conditions were far from ideal. The rain was relentless, and the streets outside were flooded. The external distractions, such as the storm raging outside and the ticking clock, only added to her nerves. However, as the presentation began, Emily realized that while external factors could influence her, they could not deter her from delivering her message with confidence. During her presentation, Emily acknowledged the external factors, such as market trends and competition, that had shaped her project’s outcomes. Her audience seemed impressed, and the feedback was largely positive, especially about her ability to weave external influences into the strategy. Later that evening, as she sat in her office reflecting on the day’s events, she realized that, while external pressures had shaped the process, it was her internal drive and focus that had ultimately determined the success of her work.
Related Words
