demonstrate
[dem-uhn-streyt]
- to make evident or establish by arguments or reasoning; prove: to demonstrate a philosophical principle.
- to describe, explain, or illustrate by examples, specimens, experiments, or the like: to demonstrate the force of gravity by dropping an object.
- to manifest or exhibit; show: He demonstrated his courage by his actions in battle.
- to display openly or publicly, as feelings: to demonstrate one's anger by slamming a door.
- 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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- to make, give, or take part in, a demonstration: The pickets required a license to demonstrate.
- Military. to attack or make a show of force to deceive an enemy.
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Origin of demonstrate
1545–55; < Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre to show, point out, equivalent to dē- de- + monstrāre to show, verbal derivative of monstrum sign, portent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
exhibitproveexposetryindicatedeterminetestvalidatemanifestestablishteachexpressdescribeconfirmprotestevinceauthenticateflauntevidencedebunkExamples from the Web for demonstrate
Contemporary Examples
He was trying, I think, to demonstrate balance and equivalence.
Over the course of the year, Klaus would repeatedly, through word and deed, demonstrate his sympathies with Putin.
Vaclav Klaus, Libertarian Hero, Has His Wings Clipped by Cato InstituteJames Kirchick
December 22, 2014
A classroom experiment seeks to demonstrate what it looks like.
One day, he took a monk with a cleanly shaven head and had him walk around a light bulb to demonstrate this theory.
For the Democrats to win as the Government Party, activist government must demonstrate that it both works and is trustworthy.
Historical Examples
Anyone else can demonstrate it who chooses to make the experiment.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
We should in vain, therefore, attempt to demonstrate its falsehood.
You want to demonstrate that you are superior, and you cannot do it.
The Slave Of The LampHenry Seton Merriman
So much for the first point which I wished to explain and demonstrate.
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part I]Benedict of Spinoza
At all events, it is as impossible to demonstrate the non-existence of the one unit as the other.
Life: Its True GenesisR. W. Wright
demonstrate
- (tr) to show, manifest, or prove, esp by reasoning, evidence, etcit is easy to demonstrate the truth of this proposition
- (tr) to evince; reveal the existence ofthe scheme later demonstrated a fatal flaw
- (tr) to explain or illustrate by experiment, example, etc
- (tr) to display, operate, and explain the workings of (a machine, product, etc)
- (intr) to manifest support, protest, etc, by public parades or rallies
- (intr) to be employed as a demonstrator of machinery, etc
- (intr) military to make a show of force, esp in order to deceive one's enemy
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin dēmonstrāre to point out, from monstrāre to show
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for demonstrate
v.
1550s, "to point out," from Latin demonstratus, past participle of demonstrare (see demonstration). Meaning "to point out by argument or deduction" is from 1570s. Related: Demonstrated; demonstrating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper