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showman

American  
[shoh-muhn] / ˈʃoʊ mən /

noun

PLURAL

showmen
  1. a person who presents or produces a show, especially of a theatrical nature.

  2. a person who is gifted in doing or presenting things theatrically or dramatically.

    He didn't have much voice but was a great showman.


showman British  
/ ˈʃəʊmən /

noun

  1. a person who presents or produces a theatrical show, etc

  2. a person skilled at presenting anything in an effective manner

"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

Other Word Forms

  • showmanly adverb
  • showmanship noun

Etymology

Origin of showman

First recorded in 1725–35; show + -man

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.

For all his achievements, Kelly is not a natural showman.

From Salon

Yet he acquired a reputation as a dandy, a clever humorist and an intellectual showman, distinctly apolitical and seemingly a man of no convictions.

From Los Angeles Times

"But make no mistake, I'm ready to bring my A-game," the four-time Grand Slam winner warned the volatile Australian showman who is currently 652nd in the ATP rankings having not played since March.

From Barron's

Musk has unquestioned talents as a salesman, showman and performer, and no doubt values those qualities in others.

From Salon

They peg him as an inveterate showman who is less interested in Russia and China than dioramas of the new White House ballroom or a Triumphal Arch near the Lincoln Memorial.

From The Wall Street Journal