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

The two men collaborated frequently, and while Bell used the medical theater to demonstrate deductions on living people, Littlejohn kept a collection of case evidence to show his classes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

"The general recommendation is that there should be no demonstrations. Those who want to continue to demonstrate, when they are trade union organisations, will have alternative routes proposed by the prefects," the French president announced.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

To demonstrate the new microscope's capabilities, the researchers reconstructed images of two different proteins.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Watt’s invitation to demonstrate the Peanut punch while they were broadcasting Sunday’s Bills-Raiders game — “and as soon as I did it, I regretted it,” he told Pat McAfee.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

Jackson had several books at his side, and he began to read to his colleagues in order to demonstrate that his opinions were shared by the most respected authorities.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

"All of the research done demonstrates that those players having more touches of the ball are more engaged in the game," John Folwell, the FA's head of grassroots coach development, told BBC Sport.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

"Discovering that an entirely new magnetic phase had remained hidden for more than one hundred years demonstrates that even the most mature scientific fields can still hold fundamental surprises."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

Sometime later, Jason arrives and demonstrates a knack for reviving from naps the average human wouldn’t wake up from.

From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026

As Rod Phillips demonstrates in “Cats: A History”—an encyclopedic study of mankind’s ever-changing perception of felines—the concept of the nonworking housecat is, at the outermost, only 200 years old.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

The fact that the insecticide was applied in very low concentrations is meaningless, as its explosive progress through the natural food chain in the lake demonstrates.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

MIT researchers have demonstrated that a single, carefully engineered layer of living muscle cells can generate enough force to propel a tiny robot forward.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

Thousands demonstrated in Venezuela's capital and other cities Thursday, demanding the return of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

This has since been demonstrated a thousand times over, and much show business brain power has been dedicated to thinking up new ways to dress a handful of basic formats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

In late September, the company launched its huge Starship rocket in another test flight which demonstrated its ability to reach orbit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

Kendra grew weary, and Grandma periodically demonstrated other techniques for her and Seth to employ.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Nvidia also reported a 75% gross margin, demonstrating substantial profitability at its current scale.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

The 67-year-old sportscaster didn’t actually injure himself demonstrating the so-called “Peanut” punch with CBS broadcast booth partner J.J.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

"It was very scary because it's my first time in a big city, and also my first time demonstrating," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

A senior State Department official told reporters on Friday that Rubio was demonstrating Washington's goodwill toward the "deepening partnership across Central Asia," especially in the energy sector.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

“Well, that was a nice visit!” declared Magic, demonstrating she had no awareness of her behavior.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

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Related Words

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

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