demonstrate

American  

[dem-uhn-strayt] / ˈdɛm ənˌstreɪt /

verb (used with object)

• demonstrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• demonstrated,
  past participle,  past
• demonstrating
  present participle

1. 

   to make evident or establish by arguments or reasoning; prove.

   to demonstrate a philosophical principle.

   Synonyms:

   corroborate, verify, confirm, show

2. to describe, explain, or illustrate by examples, specimens, experiments, or the like.

   to demonstrate the force of gravity by dropping an object.

3. to manifest or exhibit; show.

   He demonstrated his courage by his actions in battle.

4. to display openly or publicly, as feelings.

   to demonstrate one's anger by slamming a door.

5. to exhibit the operation or use of (a device, process, product, or the like), usually to a purchaser or prospect.

   to demonstrate an automobile.

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verb (used without object)

• demonstrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• demonstrated,
  past participle,  past
• demonstrating
  present participle

1. to make, give, or take part in, a demonstration.

   The pickets required a license to demonstrate.

2. Military. to attack or make a show of force to deceive an enemy.

demonstrate British  

/ ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to show, manifest, or prove, esp by reasoning, evidence, etc

   it is easy to demonstrate the truth of this proposition

2. (tr) to evince; reveal the existence of

   the scheme later demonstrated a fatal flaw

3. (tr) to explain or illustrate by experiment, example, etc

4. (tr) to display, operate, and explain the workings of (a machine, product, etc)

5. (intr) to manifest support, protest, etc, by public parades or rallies

6. (intr) to be employed as a demonstrator of machinery, etc

7. (intr) military to make a show of force, esp in order to deceive one's enemy

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• redemonstrate
  verb
• predemonstrate
  verb (used with object)
• subdemonstrate
  verb (used with object)
• counterdemonstrate
  verb (used without object)
• undemonstrated
  adjective
• well-demonstrated
  adjective
• demonstratedly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• demonstrating
  present
• demonstrated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• demonstrate
  simple
• demonstrates
  simple
• have demonstrated
  perfect
• has demonstrated
  perfect
• am demonstrating
  progressive
• are demonstrating
  progressive
• is demonstrating
  progressive
• have been demonstrating
  perfect progressive
• has been demonstrating
  perfect progressive

Past

• demonstrated
  simple
• had demonstrated
  perfect
• was demonstrating
  progressive
• were demonstrating
  progressive
• had been demonstrating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will demonstrate
  simple
• will have demonstrated
  perfect
• will be demonstrating
  progressive
• will have been demonstrating
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of demonstrate

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre “to show, point out,” equivalent to dē- de- + monstrāre “to show,” verbal derivative of monstrum “sign, portent”; see origin at monster ( def. )

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Explanation

When you demonstrate something, you show what it is or how it works. To demonstrate how your new juicer works, you should have lots of kale, carrots, and beets on hand — and some brave friends to try your concoction. Demonstrate comes from the Latin word demonstrare, meaning “to point out by argument or deduction.” To demonstrate a point you must make a valid argument and give examples of why you think it's true. Demonstrate can also refer to a public protest. You can demonstrate with your comrades by marching through the streets with homemade protest signs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demonstrate demonstrates demonstrated demonstrating

Microsoft must demonstrate that Maia’s savings survive the costs of development, deployment and adapting software to run on it.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

"However, if that evidence was already before the Commission, which nevertheless concluded that the arrangements were a sham, City will face an uphill struggle to demonstrate the finding was materially wrong."

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

RBC’s Keith Mackey says, “Enerflex continues to demonstrate strong execution in BTM power generation, with its backlog now exceeding 1.75GW.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Although reducing inflammation could theoretically influence the disease, the study did not demonstrate that GAE prevents cartilage deterioration or reverses existing joint damage.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

Sometimes I’d demonstrate a back tuck or a tumbling move, and he’d say, “I was a great tumbler in my day. You get your gymnastics talent from me, Simone.”

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Bleached corals had been largely written off because of their high mortality rate, said Collins -- though the new work instead demonstrates they "really shouldn't be thought of as a lost cause."

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

"This case demonstrates the impact of not having timely follow up appointments," the coroner added.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Although the work was conducted in mouse embryos and does not yet represent a direct medical treatment, it demonstrates a powerful way to study the biological decisions that shape a developing organism.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

The Greenland security agreement demonstrates another way forward.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026

If at the heart of rhetoric is the ability to position oneself in regard to an audience, their exchange demonstrates Satan’s mastery.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Fa'alogo's performance as a replacement for Mariner - who will have a scan on a hamstring strain - demonstrated Samoa's strength in depth, as their head coach Ben Gardiner acknowledged.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Nathan Fielder, on such comic-reality shows as HBO’s “The Rehearsal,” has demonstrated that warped goggles can make a fuzzy truth come more clearly into focus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Rolland said that demonstrated a positive trend for memory suppliers.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

The outcome demonstrated the Aharonov-Bohm effect within a lattice gauge theory containing a dynamical field.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

He’d demonstrated in the past that he could, though admittedly infrequently, draw with Spassky.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Beyond its striking photographs, Sentinel-3C has already begun demonstrating its ability to gather precise scientific measurements.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

If they’re successful in it, and already demonstrating that, then I would advise staying out of it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

It found that D2 supplementation significantly reduced parathyroid hormone levels and produced a small increase in blood calcium, demonstrating that D2 continues to have meaningful biological effects even though it may reduce circulating D3.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Cordova also shared an independent report the company commissioned from consulting firm Roux Associates, which he said “found no evidence in the administrative record ... demonstrating that the site adversely affects public health.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Sure enough, McLaggen, for reasons best known to himself, had pulled Peakes’s bat from him and appeared to be demonstrating how to hit a Bludger toward an oncoming Cadwallader.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

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Related Words

• determine
• establish
• exhibit
• expose
• indicate
• manifest
• prove
• test
• testify to
• try
• validate

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