show

[ shoh ]

verb (used with object)

, showed, shown or showed, show·ing.

1. to cause or allow to be seen; exhibit; display.
2. to present or perform as a public entertainment or spectacle:

   to show a movie.

3. to indicate; point out:

   to show the way.

4. to guide, escort, or usher:

   He showed me to my room. Show her in.

   Synonyms: conduct, lead

5. to explain or make clear; make known:

   He showed what he meant.

   Synonyms: divulge, disclose, reveal, elucidate, clarify, interpret

6. to make known to; inform, instruct, or prove to:

   I'll show you what I mean.

7. to prove; demonstrate:

   His experiment showed the falsity of the theory.

8. to indicate, register, or mark:

   The thermometer showed 10 below zero.

9. to exhibit or offer for sale:

   to show a house.

10. to allege, as in a legal document; plead, as a reason or cause.

    Synonyms: affirm, assert

11. to produce, as facts in an affidavit or at a hearing.
12. to express or make evident by appearance, behavior, speech, etc.:

    to show one's feelings.

13. to accord or grant (favor, kindness, etc.):

    He showed mercy in his decision.

    Synonyms: confer, bestow

verb (used without object)

, showed, shown or showed, show·ing.

1. to be seen; be or become visible:

   Does my slip show?

2. to be seen in a certain way:

   to show to advantage.

3. to put on an exhibition or performance; display one's goods or products:

   Several dress designers are showing in New York now.

4. Informal. to be present or keep an appointment; show up:

   He said he would be there, but he didn't show.

5. to finish third in a horse race, harness race, etc.

noun

1. a theatrical production, performance, or company:

   We’d like to catch a Broadway show while we’re in the city!

2. a radio or television program:

   The show is on Tuesdays at 8:00.

3. a movie:

   Grab a popcorn and a drink before the show starts.

4. an exposition for dealers or the public of products by various manufacturers in a particular industry, usually held in an exhibition hall, convention facility, or the like:

   the annual boat show.

5. any kind of public exhibition or exposition:

   a show of Renoirs.

   Synonyms: spectacle

6. ostentatious display:

   nothing but mere show.

7. a display, exhibition, or demonstration:

   a true show of freedom.

8. an indication; trace:

   He frowned on the slightest show of emotion.

9. the position of the competitor who comes in third in a horse race, harness race, etc. Compare place ( def 27b ), win ¹( def 16 ).
10. appearance; impression:

    to make a sorry show.

11. a sight or spectacle.
12. an unreal or deceptive appearance:

    The actress's tears had the show of grief.

    Synonyms: illusion, simulation, pretense, deception

13. an act or instance of showing.
14. Informal. a chance:

    to get a fair show.

15. Medicine/Medical.
    1. the first appearance of blood at the onset of menstruation.
    2. a blood-tinged mucous discharge from the vagina that indicates the onset of labor.
16. Chiefly British Informal. any undertaking, group of persons, event, etc.; affair; thing.

verb phrase

1. 1. to display ostentatiously:

      The parade was designed to show off all the latest weapons of war.

   2. to seek to gain attention by displaying prominently one's abilities or accomplishments.
2. 1. to make known, as faults; expose; reveal.
   2. to exhibit in a certain way; appear:

      White shows up well against a blue background.

   3. to come to or arrive at a place:

      We waited for two hours, but he didn't show up.

   4. to make (another) seem inferior; outdo.

show

/ ʃəʊ /

verb

1. to make, be, or become visible or noticeable

   to show one's dislike

2. tr to present to view; exhibit

   he showed me a picture

3. tr to indicate or explain; prove

   to show that the earth moves round the sun

4. tr to exhibit or present (oneself or itself) in a specific character

   to show oneself to be trustworthy

5. tr; foll by how and an infinitive to instruct by demonstration

   show me how to swim

6. tr to indicate or register

   a barometer shows changes in the weather

7. tr to grant or bestow

   to show favour to someone

8. intr to appear

   to show to advantage

9. to exhibit, display, or offer (goods, etc) for sale

   three artists were showing at the gallery

10. tr to allege, as in a legal document

    to show cause

11. to present (a play, film, etc) or (of a play, etc) to be presented, as at a theatre or cinema
12. tr to guide or escort

    please show me to my room

13. show in
    to conduct a person into a room or building by opening the door for him
14. show out
    to conduct a person out of a room or building by opening the door for him
15. intr to win a place in a horse race, etc
16. to give a performance of riding and handling (a horse) to display its best points
17. informal.
    intr to put in an appearance; arrive

noun

1. a display or exhibition
2. a public spectacle
3. an ostentatious or pretentious display
4. a theatrical or other entertainment
5. a trace or indication
6. obstetrics a discharge of blood at the onset of labour
7. informal.
   a chance; opportunity (esp in the phrases give someone a show, he's got no show of winning, etc)
8. a sporting event consisting of contests in which riders perform different exercises to show their skill and their horses' ability and breeding
9. slang.
   a thing or affair (esp in the phrases good show, bad show, etc)
10. mining a slight indication of the presence of gold
11. a display of farm animals, with associated competitions
12. for show
    in order to attract attention
13. run the show informal.
    to take charge of or manage an affair, business, etc
14. steal the show
    to draw the most attention or admiration, esp unexpectedly
15. stop the show informal.
    1. (of a stage act, etc) to receive so much applause as to interrupt the performance
    2. to be received with great enthusiasm

Other Words From

• show·a·ble adjective
• show·less adjective
• out·show verb (used with object) outshowed outshown or outshowed outshowing
• pre·show adjective noun verb (used with object) preshowed preshown or preshowed preshowing
• re·show verb reshowed reshown or reshowed reshowing
• su·per·show noun
• un·show·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of show¹

First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English showen, s(c)hewen “to look at, show,” Old English scēawian “to look at”; cognate with Dutch schowen, German schauen; (noun) Middle English s(c)hew(e), derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of show¹

Old English scēawian; related to Old High German scouwōn to look, Old Norse örskār careful, Greek thuoskoos seer

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make a show of, to be ostentatious about; affect:

   Whenever there are visitors, the bosses make a show of being nice to their employees.

2. run the show, to control a business, situation, etc.; be in charge:

   My father runs the show in our house.

3. steal the show,
   1. to get the most attention, applause, or credit for something: I did all the work, but my partner stole the show.

      No doubt the three stars are all very talented, but the little boy stole the show.

      I did all the work, but my partner stole the show.

   2. to be the most pleasing or spectacular item or person in a group:

      The entrées at this restaurant are always good, but expect dessert to steal the show!

4. stop the show, to win such enthusiastic applause that a theatrical performance is temporarily interrupted.

More idioms and phrases containing show

• bare (show) one's teeth
• dog-and-pony show
• false colors, show
• for show
• get the show on the road
• go to show
• know (show) the ropes
• one-man show
• road show
• run the show
• steal the show
• (show one's) true colors

Example Sentences

The detailed assessment of many cell types over time showed discoordination in the process of muscle repair in older mice.

From Science Daily

Research at the Buck Institute shows that ketone bodies can best be understood as powerful signaling metabolites affecting brain function in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

From Science Daily

The e-tattoo electrodes, on the other hand, showed stable connectivity for at least 24 hours.

From Science Daily

John, who wrote the score for the stage adaptation, told the audience that he struggled to experience the West End show in its full glory because of his deteriorated vision.

From Los Angeles Times

AC/DC performed its first show on Dec. 31, 1973, at the Chequers Nightclub in Sydney and has since sold more than 200 million albums worldwide.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appear
• come
• demonstrate
• determine
• disclose
• display
• establish
• explain
• get
• illustrate
• indicate
• mark
• note
• present
• project
• prove
• reach
• register
• reveal
• show up

When To Use

What are other ways to say show?

The noun show refers to any type of display, exhibition, or demonstration. How does it compare to display, ostentation, and pomp? Find out on Thesaurus.com.