show-off
noun
a person given to pretentious display.
show-off
American
[shoh-awf, -of]
/ ˈʃoʊˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
Also
showoff
noun
-
show-offs
plural
-
a person given to pretentious display.
- Synonyms:
- braggart, exhibitionist
-
the act of showing off.
show off
British
verb
-
(tr) to exhibit or display so as to invite admiration
-
informal (intr) to behave in such a manner as to make an impression
noun
show off
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of show-off
First recorded in 1770–80; noun use of verb phrase show off
Explanation
If you tend to brag about your accomplishments or flaunt your possessions, you're a show-off. If you make sure everyone in your art class notices your brand new laptop, they'll call you a show-off. It's important to a show-off that everyone notices them. Whether bragging about their grade on the math test, parading their fancy new hat through the school hallways, or demonstrating their ability to juggle five oranges at once, a show-off really enjoys spectators. The verb show off came first, while the noun appeared around 1920, defined as "a person who makes a deliberate and ostentatious display."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Baz Luhrmann, the master showman, or at least show-off, of musical cinema, gives fair notice of his purpose in a big-screen offering tailored to IMAX, “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026
His decision has stirred discussion on social media, where some have called Macron "kéké", which is French slang for a show-off.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026
“Whereas De La Soul was much more natural and organic. It didn’t have that show-off feel to it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2023
Despite having the skills, Lupe's not a show-off on the field or off.
From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2022
Maybe my school's a great place if you're a show-off genius or a soccer god or something.
From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements
Anyone who requests a song from this record is just trying to show off.
From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026
"Right now, the situation is so good," Trump replied when asked about Iran, after leading reporters on a tour of the White House's South Lawn to show off his latest renovations.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
“It was Paramount’s primary technology that they were looking to show off at the time,” says Relth-Miller of the studio that developed VistaVision.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
She uses a tongue-out emoji to show off her personality to employers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Jonah figured she was adding up all the possibilities: seventh grader acting interested plus a chance to tick off older brother plus a chance to show off.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Big subjects can turn even well-intended filmmakers into show-offs, to the point that they upstage the history they seek to do justice to.
From New York Times ● Jul. 19, 2023
Even your author snubbed the offer of a mobile phone in 1997 convinced they'd only be for "show-offs" and would never really catch on.
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2023
But the show-offs want to scoop it up and run the fumble into the end zone.
From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2019
That doesn’t mean it’s an album for show-offs.
From The Verge ● Aug. 11, 2016
Four hands shot in the air, and I heard Regan mutter something about show-offs under her breath.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
