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definitions

showing

[shoh-ing]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR showing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a show, display, or exhibition.
the act of putting something on display.
a performance or record considered for the impression it makes: She made a bad showing in high school but did better in college.
a setting forth or presentation, as of facts or conditions.
Also called show piece. a rock specimen revealing the presence of a certain mineral.

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RELATED WORDS

display, performance, presentation, exhibit, production, exhibition, manifestation, occurrence, sight, view

Nearby words

  1. showfolk,
  2. showgirl,
  3. showground,
  4. showily,
  5. showiness,
  6. showjumping,
  7. showman,
  8. showmanly,
  9. showmanship,
  10. shown

Origin of showing

before 950; Middle English schewing (gerund), Old English scēawung; see show, -ing1

show

[shoh]

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.
a radio or television program.
a motion picture.
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.
a motion-picture theater.
Informal. a chance: to get a fair show.
Medicine/Medical.
  1. the first appearance of blood at the onset of menstruation.
  2. 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,
  1. to display ostentatiously: The parade was designed to show off all the latest weapons of war.
  2. to seek to gain attention by displaying prominently one's abilities or accomplishments.
show up,
  1. to make known, as faults; expose; reveal.
  2. to exhibit in a certain way; appear: White shows up well against a blue background.
  3. to come to or arrive at a place: We waited for two hours, but he didn't show up.
  4. to make (another) seem inferior; outdo.

Origin of show

before 900; (v.) 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 v.
Related forms

Synonym study

24, 25. Show, display, ostentation, pomp suggest the presentation of a more or less elaborate, often pretentious, appearance for the public to see. Show often indicates an external appearance that may or may not accord with actual facts: a show of modesty. Display applies to an intentionally conspicuous show: a great display of wealth. Ostentation is vain, ambitious, pretentious, or offensive display: tasteless and vulgar ostentation. Pomp suggests such a show of dignity and authority as characterizes a ceremony of state: The coronation was carried out with pomp and ceremonial.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for showing

British Dictionary definitions for showing

showing

noun

a presentation, exhibition, or display
manner of presentation; performance
evidence

show

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
  1. (of a stage act, etc) to receive so much applause as to interrupt the performance
  2. to be received with great enthusiasm
See also show off, show up

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
Word Origin and History for showing
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for showing

show

[shō]

n.

The first discharge of blood in menstruation.
The discharge of bloody mucus from the vagina indicating the start of labor.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with showing

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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.