show up
Britishverb
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to reveal or be revealed clearly
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(tr) to expose or reveal the faults or defects of by comparison
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informal (tr) to put to shame; embarrass
he showed me up in front of my friends
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informal (intr) to appear or arrive
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Be clearly visible, as in The print doesn't show up against this dark background . [Late 1800s]
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Put in an appearance, arrive, as in I wonder if he'll show up at all . [Late 1800s]
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Expose or reveal the true character of, as in This failure showed up their efforts as a waste of time . [Early 1800s]
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Also, show someone up . Surpass someone in ability, outdo someone, as in John's high score on that math test really showed up the rest of the class . [ Colloquial ; first half of 1900s]
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.
“We need more evidence on the monetization side, and specifically on the timeline for these initiatives to show up in bookings, before turning more constructive.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
"They often report they would rather have a physical accident to have a reason not to show up than just take the day off."
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Meanwhile, conditions like allergies often don’t show up until a pet is 2 or 3 years old, Quammen said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
When people will show up to see a movie regardless of its content or quality, filmmakers can cut all the corners they want.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
One handed him a subpoena, ordering him to show up in court the next morning.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
