showroom

[ shoh-room, -room ]

noun

1. a room used for the display of goods or merchandise.

verb (used without object)

1. to come into a store to view merchandise and then purchase it from a competitor, usually online, as to get a lower price or wider selection:

   For shoes, I usually showroom at a couple of stores, then buy them cheaper online.

2. to be used as a place to view rather than buy merchandise:

   No store wants to showroom for a website.

verb (used with object)

1. to display (merchandise) in a showroom.
2. to enter a store and view (merchandise) before purchasing it from a competitor, usually online.
3. to use or encourage people to use (a store) as a place to view rather than buy merchandise:

   The online retailers are showrooming us out of business.

   We’re being showroomed by consumers who browse our stores without buying.

showroom

/ ˈʃəʊˌruːm; -ˌrʊm /

noun

1. a room in which goods, such as cars, are on display

Other Words From

• showrooming noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of showroom¹

First recorded in 1610–20; show + room

Example Sentences

This saved the business when all the showrooms shuttered and allowed Crater to capitalize on the home renovation boom during the pandemic.

From Washington Post

Improper color calibration, like the type seen in TV retailer showrooms, often lead to images being washed out, or even oversaturated to the point of distortion.

From Time

They arrive at Burbank Sportscards, a massive showroom and warehouse that has been in business four decades.

From Washington Post

The ones with the professional paint jobs and the sparkling rims look like they belong on a showroom floor.

From Washington Post

Where other trucks modified to fit a tire that big must compromise their handling, performance, and fuel economy, the Bronco rides on 35s like a brand new, totally stock vehicle that just rolled off a showroom floor.

From Outside Online

The American Library in the Catalonian capital is bombed, an I.B.M. showroom has a brick tossed through its front window.

From The Daily Beast

They knew about it and they could have stopped it before the first car went in the showroom.

From The Daily Beast

On display in the showroom were elegant women in long black pants and finely lapelled jackets and trenches.

From The Daily Beast

His showroom remains in Antwerp rather than a major fashion capital like Paris or London.

From The Daily Beast

Gucci sounded the opening bell of a week of runway presentations and showroom installations.

From The Daily Beast

There was an ominous silence in the showroom as Sam gave himself another rest before continuing his ultimatum.

From Project Gutenberg

He turned toward the front of the showroom where his nephew was sorting over a pile of garments.

From Project Gutenberg

As Feinermann opened his mouth to reply the showroom door opened and Elkan himself entered.

From Project Gutenberg

The two partners watched him until he put on his hat and coat in the rear of the showroom and then Polatkin rose to his feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Polatkin made no reply and he was about to go into the showroom when the telephone bell rang.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boutique
• chain store
• convenience store
• deli
• department store
• discount store
• drugstore
• emporium
• grocery store
• market
• outlet
• shop
• shopping center
• supermarket