demonstrate

American  

[dem-uhn-streyt] / ˈdɛm ənˌstreɪt /

verb (used with object)

• demonstrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• demonstrated,
  past participle,  past
• demonstrating
  present participle

1. to make evident or establish by arguments or reasoning; prove.

   to demonstrate a philosophical principle.

   Synonyms:

   corroborate, verify, confirm, show

2. to describe, explain, or illustrate by examples, specimens, experiments, or the like.

   to demonstrate the force of gravity by dropping an object.

3. to manifest or exhibit; show.

   He demonstrated his courage by his actions in battle.

4. to display openly or publicly, as feelings.

   to demonstrate one's anger by slamming a door.

5. to exhibit the operation or use of (a device, process, product, or the like), usually to a purchaser or prospect.

   to demonstrate an automobile.

---

verb (used without object)

• demonstrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• demonstrated,
  past participle,  past
• demonstrating
  present participle

1. to make, give, or take part in, a demonstration.

   The pickets required a license to demonstrate.

2. Military. to attack or make a show of force to deceive an enemy.

demonstrate British  

/ ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to show, manifest, or prove, esp by reasoning, evidence, etc

   it is easy to demonstrate the truth of this proposition

2. (tr) to evince; reveal the existence of

   the scheme later demonstrated a fatal flaw

3. (tr) to explain or illustrate by experiment, example, etc

4. (tr) to display, operate, and explain the workings of (a machine, product, etc)

5. (intr) to manifest support, protest, etc, by public parades or rallies

6. (intr) to be employed as a demonstrator of machinery, etc

7. (intr) military to make a show of force, esp in order to deceive one's enemy

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• redemonstrate
  verb
• predemonstrate
  verb (used with object)
• subdemonstrate
  verb (used with object)
• counterdemonstrate
  verb (used without object)
• undemonstrated
  adjective
• well-demonstrated
  adjective
• demonstratedly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• demonstrating
  present
• demonstrated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• demonstrate
  simple
• demonstrates
  simple
• have demonstrated
  perfect
• has demonstrated
  perfect
• am demonstrating
  progressive
• are demonstrating
  progressive
• is demonstrating
  progressive
• have been demonstrating
  perfect progressive
• has been demonstrating
  perfect progressive

Past

• demonstrated
  simple
• had demonstrated
  perfect
• was demonstrating
  progressive
• were demonstrating
  progressive
• had been demonstrating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will demonstrate
  simple
• will have demonstrated
  perfect
• will be demonstrating
  progressive
• will have been demonstrating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of demonstrate

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre “to show, point out,” equivalent to dē- de- + monstrāre “to show,” verbal derivative of monstrum “sign, portent”; see origin at monster ( def. )

Explanation

When you demonstrate something, you show what it is or how it works. To demonstrate how your new juicer works, you should have lots of kale, carrots, and beets on hand — and some brave friends to try your concoction. Demonstrate comes from the Latin word demonstrare, meaning “to point out by argument or deduction.” To demonstrate a point you must make a valid argument and give examples of why you think it's true. Demonstrate can also refer to a public protest. You can demonstrate with your comrades by marching through the streets with homemade protest signs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demonstrate demonstrates demonstrated demonstrating

The judge said that their lack of ties to the US and their strong foreign connections "demonstrate a risk of flight that has not been overcome".

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Before introducing restrictions, authorities must demonstrate that short-term rentals have had a significant adverse effect on housing affordability or availability for at least three years.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

Protesters gather in San Antonio, Texas, on Aug. 28 to demonstrate against construction of a border wall in Big Bend National Park.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

The finding does not provide a unified theory of quantum mechanics and gravity, and it does not demonstrate that gravity itself is quantum.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

“I have an excellent pair of specimens to demonstrate the difference.”

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

As the Prado museum demonstrates, Madrid knows its fine art.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Can a repugnant act really dull the exquisite beauty of art, and if so, can that beauty return if the artist demonstrates remorse?

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

The stipulation demonstrates the pull that Musk has with investors eager to put their money behind the tech billionaire, who also runs Tesla and SpaceX.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

The collaboration demonstrates the scientific potential of combining highly sensitive radio observations with enormous optical spectroscopy surveys.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026

He demonstrates how to use the machine safely, then asks, “Ready?”

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

These AI systems demonstrated the ability to coordinate, establish hierarchies among themselves, cheat and erase traces of their actions.

From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026

While Sabalenka showed the resilience which she has demonstrated in her ascent to the top of the sport, she never looked completely at ease.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

While the incident caused minor harm overall, it demonstrated the capabilities of these agents, said Sydney Von Arx, the chief executive of Nightingale Collective, a not-for-profit organization that helped uncover the attack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

For O'Connor, the research also demonstrated how much paleontology can resemble detective work.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026

Muller’s experiments demonstrated that heredity could be manipulated quite easily: the mutation rate was itself quite mutable.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

John Flood, a managing director at Goldman, said in a client note obtained by MarketWatch that investors were demonstrating a surprising lack of willingness to “play meaningful offense.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

"They're demonstrating uber-specialization at two ends of their range, while also feeding on two completely different food sources."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026

“He was disoriented, confused, dizzy, well before he collapsed. ... Matthew was demonstrating signs of a problem well before he collapsed, and they did nothing.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

When the party got together in the same West Midlands venue a year ago, they were an insurgency provoking intrigue and attention and demonstrating plenty of momentum.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

“We are not going to stop demonstrations in this nation until we have good housing and political power. There is something about demonstrating that does something for you, for your dignity; it tells the truth.”

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• determine
• establish
• exhibit
• expose
• indicate
• manifest
• prove
• test
• testify to
• try
• validate