show

[ shoh ]

/ ʃoʊ /

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See synonyms for: show / showed / showing / shown on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), showed, shown or showed, show·ing.

to cause or allow to be seen; exhibit; display.

to present or perform as a public entertainment or spectacle: to show a movie.

to indicate; point out: to show the way.

to guide, escort, or usher: He showed me to my room. Show her in.

to explain or make clear; make known: He showed what he meant.

to make known to; inform, instruct, or prove to: I'll show you what I mean.

to prove; demonstrate: His experiment showed the falsity of the theory.

to indicate, register, or mark: The thermometer showed 10 below zero.

to exhibit or offer for sale: to show a house.

to allege, as in a legal document; plead, as a reason or cause.

to produce, as facts in an affidavit or at a hearing.

to express or make evident by appearance, behavior, speech, etc.: to show one's feelings.

to accord or grant (favor, kindness, etc.): He showed mercy in his decision.

verb (used without object), showed, shown or showed, show·ing.

to be seen; be or become visible: Does my slip show?

to be seen in a certain way: to show to advantage.

to put on an exhibition or performance; display one's goods or products: Several dress designers are showing in New York now.

Informal. to be present or keep an appointment; show up: He said he would be there, but he didn't show.

to finish third in a horse race, harness race, etc.

noun

a theatrical production, performance, or company: We’d like to catch a Broadway show while we’re in the city!

a radio or television program: The show is on Tuesdays at 8:00.

a movie: Grab a popcorn and a drink before the show starts.

an exposition for dealers or the public of products by various manufacturers in a particular industry, usually held in an exhibition hall, convention facility, or the like: the annual boat show.

any kind of public exhibition or exposition: a show of Renoirs.

ostentatious display: nothing but mere show.

a display, exhibition, or demonstration: a true show of freedom.

an indication; trace: He frowned on the slightest show of emotion.

the position of the competitor who comes in third in a horse race, harness race, etc.Compare place (def. 27b), win¹ (def. 17).

appearance; impression: to make a sorry show.

a sight or spectacle.

an unreal or deceptive appearance: The actress's tears had the show of grief.

an act or instance of showing.

Informal. a chance: to get a fair show.

Medicine/Medical.

the first appearance of blood at the onset of menstruation.
a blood-tinged mucous discharge from the vagina that indicates the onset of labor.

Chiefly British Informal. any undertaking, group of persons, event, etc.; affair; thing.

Verb Phrases

show off,

to display ostentatiously: The parade was designed to show off all the latest weapons of war.
to seek to gain attention by displaying prominently one's abilities or accomplishments.

show up,

to make known, as faults; expose; reveal.
to exhibit in a certain way; appear: White shows up well against a blue background.
to come to or arrive at a place: We waited for two hours, but he didn't show up.
to make (another) seem inferior; outdo.

OTHER WORDS FOR show

4 lead, conduct.

5 interpret, clarify, elucidate; reveal, disclose, divulge.

10 assert, affirm.

13 bestow, confer.

23 spectacle.

30 deception, pretense, simulation, illusion.

See synonyms for show on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about show

make a show of, to be ostentatious about; affect: Whenever there are visitors, the bosses make a show of being nice to their employees.

run the show, to control a business, situation, etc.; be in charge: My father runs the show in our house.

steal the show,

to get the most attention, applause, or credit for something: No doubt the three stars are all very talented, but the little boy stole the show.I did all the work, but my partner stole the show.
to be the most pleasing or spectacular item or person in a group: The entrées at this restaurant are always good, but expect dessert to steal the show!

stop the show, to win such enthusiastic applause that a theatrical performance is temporarily interrupted.

Origin of show

First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English showen, s(c)hewen “to look at, show,” Old English scēawian “to look at”; cognate with Dutch schowen, German schauen; (noun) Middle English s(c)hew(e), derivative of the verb

OTHER WORDS FROM show

show·a·ble, adjectiveshow·less, adjectiveout·show, verb (used with object), out·showed, out·shown or out·showed, out·show·ing.pre·show, adjective, noun, verb (used with object), pre·showed, pre·shown or pre·showed, pre·show·ing.

re·show, verb, re·showed, re·shown or re·showed, re·show·ing.su·per·show, nounun·show·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby show

shovelhead, shovelnose, shovel-nosed, shovelnose sturgeon, shove off, show, Showa, show and tell, show bag, show bill, show biz

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say show?

The noun show refers to any type of display, exhibition, or demonstration. How does it compare to display, ostentation, and pomp? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

How to use show in a sentence

Policemen on the show joke about prison riots, bomb threats, and the shooting of unarmed civilians.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As soon as this attack [happened], Paris citizens came together to show were are not afraid, we are Charlie Hebdo.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And they might not have to wait that long to show their political heft.
Asian-Americans Are The New Florida|Tim Mak|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Not actual CIA agents, but U.S. government personnel who have worked very closely with the CIA, and who are fans of the show.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Earlier this week, Huckabee ended his Fox News talk show so he could spend time mulling another bid for the Republican nomination.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
None other would dare to show herself unveiled to a stranger, and a white man at that.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
I shall show how it is possible thus to prolong life to the term set by God.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume II of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
Not only do children thus of themselves extend the scope of our commands, they show a disposition to make rules for themselves.
Children's Ways|James Sully
He called upon the Order to show their title-deeds, but was met with a contemptuous refusal.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
If any one has lost his temper, as well as his money, he takes good care not to show it; to do so here would be indeed bad form.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for show

show

/ (ʃəʊ) /

verb shows, showing, showed, shown or showed

to make, be, or become visible or noticeableto show one's dislike

(tr) to present to view; exhibithe showed me a picture

(tr) to indicate or explain; proveto show that the earth moves round the sun

(tr) to exhibit or present (oneself or itself) in a specific characterto show oneself to be trustworthy

(tr; foll by how and an infinitive) to instruct by demonstrationshow me how to swim

(tr) to indicate or registera barometer shows changes in the weather

(tr) to grant or bestowto show favour to someone

(intr) to appearto show to advantage

to exhibit, display, or offer (goods, etc) for salethree artists were showing at the gallery

(tr) to allege, as in a legal documentto show cause

to present (a play, film, etc) or (of a play, etc) to be presented, as at a theatre or cinema

(tr) to guide or escortplease show me to my room

show in to conduct a person into a room or building by opening the door for him

show out to conduct a person out of a room or building by opening the door for him

(intr) to win a place in a horse race, etc

to give a performance of riding and handling (a horse) to display its best points

(intr) informal to put in an appearance; arrive

noun

a display or exhibition

a public spectacle

an ostentatious or pretentious display

a theatrical or other entertainment

a trace or indication

obstetrics a discharge of blood at the onset of labour

US, Australian and NZ informal a chance; opportunity (esp in the phrases give someone a show, he's got no show of winning, etc)

a sporting event consisting of contests in which riders perform different exercises to show their skill and their horses' ability and breeding

slang, mainly British a thing or affair (esp in the phrases good show, bad show, etc)

Australian and NZ mining a slight indication of the presence of gold

a display of farm animals, with associated competitions

for show in order to attract attention

run the show informal to take charge of or manage an affair, business, etc

steal the show to draw the most attention or admiration, esp unexpectedly

stop the show informal

(of a stage act, etc) to receive so much applause as to interrupt the performance
to be received with great enthusiasm

Word Origin for show

Old English scēawian; related to Old High German scouwōn to look, Old Norse örskār careful, Greek thuoskoos seer

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with show

show

In addition to the idioms beginning with show

show and tell
show must go on, the
show off
show of hands
show one's colors
show one's face
show one's hand
show one's heels
show one's teeth
show one's true colors
show signs of
show someone the door
show someone the ropes
show someone a good time
show someone out
show the way
show the white feather
show to advantage
show up

also see:

bare (show) one's teeth
dog-and-pony show
false colors, show
for show
get the show on the road
go to show
know (show) the ropes
one-man show
road show
run the show
steal the show
(show one's) true colors

show

OTHER WORDS FOR show

Idioms about show

Origin of show

OTHER WORDS FROM show

Words nearby show

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say show?

Words related to show

How to use show in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for show

Word Origin for show

Other Idioms and Phrases with show