showman

[ shoh-muhn ]

noun,plural show·men.

a person who presents or produces a show, especially of a theatrical nature.
a person who is gifted in doing or presenting things theatrically or dramatically: He didn't have much voice but was a great showman.

Origin of showman

First recorded in 1725–35; show + -man

Other words from showman

show·man·ly, adverb

Words Nearby showman

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

How to use showman in a sentence

Taking into account that Musk is known for being a showman over being a realist, you probably shouldn’t hold your breath for him to deliver this promised product on time.
Tesla wants to make humanoid robots. Here’s their competition. | Charlotte Hu | August 24, 2021 | Popular-Science
When he was about 16, he had his first major professional job, working for a week in Boston with Cab Calloway, a singer and showman who had been popular in the 1930s.
Chick Corea, versatile pianist who made jazz eclectic and electric, dies at 79 | Matt Schudel | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
Paige was a natural showman, like the way he ambled into a ballgame from the bullpen — this old gentleman, not one to rush into difficulties.
Satchel Paige was one of baseball’s best. It didn’t take an announcement to know that. | Thomas M. Boswell | December 18, 2020 | Washington Post
Diana showman, 19, had come out of her house, ignored demands to put down the weapon, and was shot once.
The 14 Teens Killed by Cops Since Michael Brown | Nina Strochlic | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If T-Rex is a rapper by which to set your watch, Daylyt is something of a controversial showman.
America’s Poets: Battle Rap Gets Real | Rich Goldstein | July 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Ever the showman, he asks if he can play the tape forward, sing the lyric once, play that “backmasked stuff,” then sing that.
The Stacks: The Judas Priest Teen Suicide Trial | Ivan Solotaroff | June 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The announcement was a vintage bit of a political theater for a master political showman.
Ex-Con, Ex-Mayor Buddy Cianci Wants His Old Job Back | David Freedlander | June 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He was not just the best player of his time—he was a showman of epic proportions.
How Sneaker Culture Conquered the World | William O’Connor | March 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The baggage—two trunks, a showman's keyster, two suitcases, a big duffle bag and handbags—was loaded on trailer and backseat.
David Lannarck, Midget | George S. Harney
When an experienced showman came to do the clipping, I naturally stuck around to see what would happen.
The Red Cow and Her Friends | Peter McArthur
A strong man held her by the wool around her neck, while the experienced showman looked her over with a critical eye.
The Red Cow and Her Friends | Peter McArthur
I'm the showman of the occasion, moreover, and I avert myself, leaving you to judge.
The Tragic Muse | Henry James
Herr Selingman stood on one side with outstretched hand, in the manner of a showman.
Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo | E. Phillips Oppenheim

British Dictionary definitions for showman

showman

/ (ˈʃəʊmən) /

nounplural -men

a person who presents or produces a theatrical show, etc
a person skilled at presenting anything in an effective manner

Derived forms of showman

showmanship, noun

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

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