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.
She then failed to show up at a friend's house to watch a virtual Sunday church service the following morning.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
People physically show up, demanding that their rights be vindicated.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Home Depot parking lots have been informal job sites for day laborers for decades, many of whom are immigrants and show up every morning seeking work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
It might take a little time for the $1,000 seed money to show up in some cases, financial advisers say.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
“If you just kind of show up at these things,” said Jamie, “they almost always let you in.”
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
