demonstrative

[ duh-mon-struh-tiv ]

/ dəˈmɒn strə tɪv /

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See synonyms for demonstrative on Thesaurus.com

adjective

characterized by or given to open exhibition or expression of one's emotions, attitudes, etc., especially of love or affection: She wished her fiancé were more demonstrative.

serving to demonstrate; explanatory or illustrative.

serving to prove the truth of anything; indubitably conclusive.

Grammar. indicating or singling out the thing referred to. This is a demonstrative pronoun.

noun

Grammar. a demonstrative word, as this or there.

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Origin of demonstrative

1350–1400; Middle English demonstratif (<Middle French ) <Latin dēmonstrātīvus, equivalent to dēmonstrāt(us) (see demonstrate) + -īvus-ive

OTHER WORDS FROM demonstrative

de·mon·stra·tive·ly, adverbde·mon·stra·tive·ness, nounnon·de·mon·stra·tive, adjectivenon·de·mon·stra·tive·ly, adverb

non·de·mon·stra·tive·ness, nounpre·de·mon·stra·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use demonstrative in a sentence

“Matters of state are not decided on the street,” he declares, wagging a finger demonstratively.
Slouching Towards Maidan: An American Hair-Trader Reflects On Ukraine’s Protests|Vijai Maheshwari|December 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That is, to read Men in Space is to encounter a novelist already aware of his capabilities, at times flexing them demonstratively.
Must Read New Fiction: ‘Arcadia,’ ‘Men in Space,’ ‘The O’Briens,’ ‘Hot Pink’|Chloë Schama, Jacob Silverman, Wendy Smith, Daniel Roberts|March 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Pain shook hands less demonstratively than his wife, and his leave-taking, if quiet, was not less sincere.
The Shadow of Ashlydyat|Mrs. Henry Wood
At the end of the Rains Boulte's manner towards his wife changed and became demonstratively affectionate.
Under the Deodars|Rudyard Kipling

"Rupert Trevlyn is its rightful owner," said the stranger, almost as demonstratively as Nora herself could have spoken.
Trevlyn Hold|Mrs. Henry Wood
I presume, that in treating of the nature of man, I have demonstratively shewn that animals enjoy not the power of reflection.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume V (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
Aware that it contained nothing contraband, I opened it innocently and demonstratively.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 12, No. 32, November, 1873|Various

British Dictionary definitions for demonstrative

demonstrative

/ (dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv) /

adjective

tending to manifest or express one's feelings easily or unreservedly

(postpositive foll by of) serving as proof; indicative

involving or characterized by demonstrationa demonstrative lecture

conclusive; indubitabledemonstrative arguments

grammar denoting or belonging to a class of determiners used to point out the individual referent or referents intended, such as this, that, these, and thoseCompare interrogative, relative

noun

grammar a demonstrative word or construction

Derived forms of demonstrative

demonstratively, adverbdemonstrativeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

demonstrative

Origin of demonstrative

OTHER WORDS FROM demonstrative

Words related to demonstrative

How to use demonstrative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demonstrative

Derived forms of demonstrative