demonstrate

American  

[dem-uhn-streyt] / 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

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. )

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

To demonstrate, Weger starts layering a mannequin in her bedroom, picking from racks of clothes, handbags, color-coordinated shoes and jewelry nearby.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

"Those studies are critically important, but the absence of risk factors does not necessarily mean someone possesses the protective factors that support exceptional brain health. This study helps demonstrate that distinction."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

That model “has been working against the company for years” but now “should demonstrate what the company can do as it returns from near-dead,” he wrote in his late Thursday report.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

"He is searching for an option that would demonstrate change in the military leadership while remaining broadly similar to Syrsky: loyal, free of political ambitions and respected by the military," political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

Peter went on to demonstrate how the word added up to a dollar.

From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea

This demonstrates the value of America’s lead, but it isn’t clear government has a better solution to the safety risks even as it threatens to turn the labs’ billion-dollar superintelligence bets into lose-lose propositions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

"This study follows our recent development of the drug candidate GHP-88310. It demonstrates that the drug is suitable to augment traditional ring vaccination against measles."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

Kingscote believes the case demonstrates the need for a national approach to regulating high-risk cosmetic procedures.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

“The fact that they’re throwing everything up on the walls at this point demonstrates panic,” Becker said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

However, a closer examination of Muggle bestiaries of that period demonstrates that most magical beasts either escaped Muggle notice completely or were mistaken for something else.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

If the war has brought Mr. Trump some unpleasant surprises, it has also demonstrated his resourcefulness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Thanks to four years as vice president and two presidential bids, her name identification is universal, and she has demonstrated the ability to raise mounds of money.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

The whistles and the mutual aid networks demonstrated that it did not.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Ramachandran said current evidence has not yet demonstrated that those expected savings actually occur.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

In theory, peremptory strikes may increase the fairness of the proceeding by eliminating jurors who may be biased but whose biases cannot be demonstrated convincingly to a judge.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Gutierrez said a candidate who is serious about demonstrating a commitment to good governance should be comprehensive in their financial disclosures and could divest from any stock holdings.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

Whether or not you have years of experience is less important than demonstrating that you can hit the ground running.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

In recent days nearly a third of transiting vessels took the Omani route, demonstrating that Iran’s coercion hasn’t wholly succeeded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier urged protesters to stay peaceful, saying that "anyone demonstrating against a party they consider to be unconstitutional should not themselves act in a manner that is unconstitutional".

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

"It’s the difference between demonstrating and organizing," Stick said.

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon

Related Words

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