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to show

to show

1.0
To let others see or notice something
  • verb
  • /ʃoʊ/
translation icon : mostrar
  • She will show us the latest design for the new product.
  • show videos
  • shown in parentheses

But with that being said, let's just show you my plants.

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Examples

  • All right, so show us what you got props.

  • Let me show you.

  • We have to be able to show our standards.

  • OK, I want to show you a couple more.

  • But with that being said, let's just show you my plants.

  • I'll go ahead and just show you some of that.

  • OK, so today I'm going to show you my routine.

  • Hey, Finner, show me that alligator again.

  • I'll show you.

  • School librarians demonstrate how to research deeply and show students that mastery is within their grasp.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

to express
vsto show
2.3

To show ideas and feelings by words or actions

is about making things visible, not specifically about communicating feelings
to present
vsto show
2.8

Introduce information or ideas to a group

can apply to many acts of making something visible, not only to audiences
to display
vsto show
439 1.9

To show something so other people can see it

is more general, meaning to make things noticeable or apparent
to indicate
vsto show
434 3.1

Point to a place, person, direction or thing

is wider, covering many acts of making things apparent beyond pointing
to produce
vsto show
305 2.5

To show something as proof

is wider, including simple making visible without evidential purpose
to illustrate
vsto show
301 3.5

To explain something using pictures or examples

focuses on visibility rather than on explanation or illustration
to demonstrate
vsto show
211 3.1

Show people how something works or is done

can mean merely making visible rather than explaining or testing
to exhibit
vsto show
173 3.4

To show something to the public or show a feeling

is broader, not limited to public or formal display situations
to expose
vsto show
146 2.8

Make something visible by removing a cover or letting light reach it

is not limited to uncovering and can include other ways to reveal
to manifest
vsto show
  • Formal
125 5.6

To show a feeling or quality in actions and appearance

is the general act of making things visible, not only emerging qualities
to unveil
vsto show
109 4.1

To make something known for the first time

is general and does not require the idea of first public revelation
to showcase
vsto show
104 3.7

To present something so people notice its best qualities

is more neutral and simply makes things visible without praise
to bring out
vsto show
76 3.0

Make a quality or detail easier to notice

may refer to general visibility rather than stressing features
to put up
vsto show
54 2.4

Place a sign or notice so people can see it

covers that action but also many other ways of making things apparent
to illuminate
vsto show
52 4.1

To make something bright or visible with light

is broader and includes non-lighting ways to make things visible
to demo
vsto show
8 3.8

To show how a product or process works to other people

is more general and not limited to practical or product demonstrations
to evince
vsto show
  • Formal
8 8.2

To show clearly what someone thinks or feels

is a simpler act of making visible or noticeable without clarity emphasis
to disclose
vsto show
7 4.0

Make something visible by removing a cover

is broader, applying to revealing as well as simple display

Antonyms

1.0

To keep something so others cannot see or understand it

282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

86 7.0

Make something hard to see or understand

Idioms

for show
  • Informal
26 6.7

Made to impress people rather than to be useful

14 3.7

To get the most attention or praise at an event

A person or thing that stands out in a performance

9 6.3

To let people see who you really are, often under pressure

To start something after getting everything ready

A visible result you get from effort

An event or activity must continue even when there are problems

1 7.5

To behave so others notice you in an embarrassing way

to show a leg
  • Archaic
1 9.5

To come out and join other people

whale of a show
  • Informal
1 6.4

A very good performance or event that impresses many people

A quiet time after a big public celebration when excitement ends

A saying that theatre or film work is more exciting, rewarding, and difficult than other jobs

Run away quickly to avoid danger or trouble

9.9

Reveal an ankle in a way others see as shocking or rude

Ask a woman to look at your art as a joke that suggests romantic or sexual interest

9.9

To embarrass yourself by doing something awkward in front of other people

Make yourself look good to other people

7.7

To make others see you are in charge

Make something brighter and more lively with colour or style

Phrasal Verbs

1.4

To be seen or arrive at a place

to show off
  • Informal
216 3.2

To act proudly to get attention or praise

to run the show
  • Informal
58 4.1

To be in charge of an activity or group

To make someone enjoy themselves, for example when they visit

to show the door
  • Informal
6 6.7

Tell someone to leave a place firmly

5 6.4

Tell someone to leave a place in a rude or angry way

2 4.2

To fail to go to a planned meeting or appointment without telling anyone

Arrive somewhere without being invited

Appear in bright colours or make your style clear by what you wear

to show out
  • Informal
7.4

Act in a loud way to get attention and impress people

Compounds

275 1.0

A TV program that people watch for fun or information

268 2.5

A television or radio program where famous people speak about topics and answer audience questions

131 1.0

A program you watch on TV in separate episodes

129 3.2

The world of movies, TV, theatre, and music and the people who work there

65 1.1

A television program where people compete in games or quizzes to win prizes

freak show
  • Offensive
35 6.8

An event that shows strange or shocking people and acts for entertainment

news show
  • Literature
27 1.0

A TV or radio program that reports current events and includes interviews and discussion

21 4.0

A person expected at an appointment who does not arrive and gives no notice

19 4.0

An event where people buy, sell, and look at guns

17 1.8

A performance using puppets to tell a story to people

15 2.0

An event where judges compare dogs to breed standards

15 3.5

A display of colored lights that move and change for entertainment

show-off
  • Offensive
12 4.8

A person who tries to get attention by doing things to impress others

11 3.4

A show made of different short acts like songs, dances, and jokes

picture show
  • Archaic
10 2.5

A film shown in a cinema for people to watch

show biz
  • Informal
10 3.5

The industry that makes movies, television, and theater for the public

9 1.1

The time when a movie or play starts

horror show
  • Informal
8 6.8

A situation that is chaotic and full of problems

show trial
  • Literature
7 8.6

A public court case planned to make a person look guilty

4 2.5

A TV or radio programme where famous people talk about topics and answer audience questions

4 4.2

Live music, dance, or comedy acts in clubs and restaurants

3 3.1

A performance with skaters doing routines on ice to music

minstrel show
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A stage show where performers paint their faces black and act in a mean, exaggerated way about Black people

pregame show
  • Literature
2 3.2

A TV program before a sports event that gives analysis, highlights, and interviews

2 8.1

A stage show with funny acts and dancing where performers remove clothes

strip show
  • Offensive
1 5.7

A performance where a person slowly removes their clothes to music as a sexual display

Wild West show
  • Archaic
1 6.3

A live show with cowboys riding horses, shooting, and showing life in the old West

clown show
  • Offensive
1 7.0

A very messy and badly organized event or situation

1 4.2

A show that travels to different places for people to see

road show
  • Jargon
1 4.8

A series of presentations in different cities to meet people who might invest

dumb show
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A short silent show using only gestures and body movement

Very impressive and hard to ignore

A traveling American show from the 1880s that showed horse riding, shooting and frontier life

1 5.5

A live act in which trained monkeys do tricks for people to watch

1 5.5

A show that tells a story with moving images and sound like a movie

show card
  • Archaic
1 4.6

A poster that advertises a play or concert

1 3.1

A window at the front of a shop that shows goods to attract people

1 5.1

A thing that looks very impressive and gets a lot of attention

1 6.6

A serious problem that stops a plan, product, or event from going ahead

A light, funny show on a British seaside pier with songs and jokes

A public show where moving pictures and sound tell a story, like a film at a cinema

galanty show
  • Archaic
9.9

A performance that shows moving shadow figures on a screen

raree-show
  • Archaic
9.9

A small box that people look into to see pictures

A performance that uses figures and light to make moving shadows on a screen

A nickname for the US state Missouri because its people are practical and do not believe things easily

show bill
  • Archaic
5.8

A poster that tells people about a play or musical

A part of a show that is so impressive it gets long applause

Causing a project or process to stop because of a serious problem

How Visible

to expose
146 2.8
to reveal
2.3
to show
1.0
to indicate
318 2.7
to suggest
2.1

Surface Forms

show infinitive
showing present participle
shows third person singular
showed past
shown past participle

Etymology

The word show comes from the old English sceawian, which meant 'to look' or 'to make visible', so to show something is to make it seen by others.