Meaning of show in English

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

  1. Pronunciation

    /ʃoʊ/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Verb

    show

    Etymology

    Old English scēawian ‘look at, inspect’, from a West Germanic base meaning ‘look’; related to Dutch schouwen and German schauen

    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

    • « The blood test showed that he was the father »
    • « Her behavior testified to her incompetence »

    Derived terms

  4. 4. make visible or noticeable

    Examples

    • « She showed her talent for cooking »
    • « Show me your etchings, please »

    Antonyms

  5. 5. show in, or as in, a picture

    Examples

    • « This scene depicts country life »
    • « the face of the child is rendered with much tenderness in this painting »

    Derived terms

  6. 6. give expression to

    Examples

    • « She showed her disappointment »
  7. 7. indicate a place, direction, person, or thing

    Examples

    • « either spatially or figuratively »
    • « I showed the customer the glove section »
    • « He pointed to the empty parking space »
    • « he indicated his opponents »

    Derived terms

  8. 8. make clear and visible

    Examples

    • « The article revealed the policies of the government »

    Derived terms

  9. 9. be or become visible or noticeable

    Examples

    • « His good upbringing really shows »
    • « The dirty side will show »
  10. 10. indicate a certain reading

    Examples

    • « of gauges and instruments »
    • « The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero »
    • « The gauge read 'empty' »

    Derived terms

  11. 11. give evidence of, as of records

    Examples

    • « The diary shows his distress that evening »
  12. 12. show (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums

    Examples

    • « The usher showed us to our seats »

    Derived terms

  13. 13. finish third or better in a horse or dog race

    Examples

    • « he bet $2 on number six to show »

  14. Noun

    show

    Definitions

    1. a public exhibition of entertainment

    Examples

    • « a remarkable show of skill »

    Derived terms

  15. 2. something intended to communicate a particular impression

    Examples

    • « made a display of strength »
    • « a show of impatience »
    • « a good show of looking interested »

    Derived terms

  16. 3. a public exhibition or entertainment

    Examples

    • « they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway »

    Derived terms

  17. 4. pretending that something is the case in order to make a good impression

    Examples

    • « they try to keep up appearances »
    • « that ceremony is just for show »

Famous quotes

  • « I don't think a woman has to act like a man to show that she has strength. »
    Little Richard
  • « It's a different era. Our job now is to show leadership and vision and to help the next generation of artists. »
    Karen Kain
  • « The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show. It is then we'll see the rising of the moon. »
    Bobby Sands
  • « I swear by that old expression, 'One monkey don't stop no show!' The reality is, we still have some good men out there, and we should hail those men as the kings they are. »
    Angie Stone
  • « Men's actions are too strong for them. Show me a man who has acted, and who has not been the victim and slave of his action. »
    Ralph Waldo Emerson

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