Meaning of demonstrate in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Verb

    demonstrate

    Etymology

    mid 16th century (in the sense ‘point out’): from Latin demonstrat-‘pointed out’, from the verb demonstrare

    Definitions

    1. show or demonstrate something to an interested audience

    Examples

    • « She shows her dogs frequently »
    • « We will demo the new software in Washington »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment

    Examples

    • « The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound »
    • « The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  3. 3. provide evidence for

    Examples

    • « stand as proof of »
    • « show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes »
    • « His high fever attested to his illness »
    • « The buildings in Rome manifest a high level of architectural sophistication »
    • « This decision demonstrates his se »

    Derived terms

  4. 4. march in protest

    Examples

    • « take part in a demonstration »
    • « Thousands demonstrated against globalization during the meeting of the most powerful economic nations in Seattle »

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « So if you're a customer today, the same person who came in to demonstrate the technology for you and helped you architect the solution before you bought it is likely going to be leading the team to help you do the implementation. »
    Sanjay Kumar
  • « The general consensus among historians, among the ones who can handle the fact that 'Lincoln' is, in fact, historical fiction, is that we demonstrate enormous fidelity to history and that, beyond that, we've actually contributed a line of thinking about Lincoln's presidency that's somewhat original. »
    Tony Kushner
  • « It is possible to demonstrate God's existence, although not a priori, yet a posteriori from some work of His more surely known to us. »
    Thomas Aquinas
  • « We've got to demonstrate why European unity and integration, our vast single market, our single currency, equip us with the strength to embrace globalization. »
    Peter Mandelson
  • « Science doesn't in the slightest depend on trust. It depends completely on the belief that you can demonstrate something for yourself. »
    Walter Gilbert

Browse dictionary