show

SaySHOH/ʃoʊ//ʃəʊ/

Verbshows, showing, showed, shown

Noun pluralshows

27 meanings of show

Practice

1
let someone seeverbtransitive
To let someone see something, to put it where they can look at it.
Show me your new phone.
She showed us the photos from her trip.
UsageSay show me your phone, or show it to me.
Similardisplay, present, exhibit, reveal
Oppositehide, conceal
2
proveverbtransitive
To prove that something is true, or make it clear with facts or evidence.
The report shows that the glacier is melting.
Can you show that your method works?
UsageSay the report shows that the ice is melting.
Similardemonstrate, prove, indicate, reveal, confirm
Oppositedisprove
3
nouncountable
A program on television or radio, especially one made to entertain.
My favorite show is on at eight.
There are too many cooking shows on TV.
UsageSay my favorite show is on at eight.
Similarprogram, series, broadcast
4
live performancenouncountable
An entertainment event, like a play, concert, or film, that people go to watch or hear.
The show starts at seven, so get there early.
We saw a great show at the theater last night.
UsageSay we saw a great show.
Similarperformance, concert, production
5
turn upverbcolloquialintransitive
To arrive or turn up where you are expected, an informal use.
We waited an hour, but he never showed.
Do you think they'll show?
UsageShow up means the same.
Similarcome, arrive, appear
6
verbintransitive
To be seen or start to be noticed.
She tried to stay calm, but her nerves began to show.
The stain still showed after two washes.
UsageSay her nerves began to show.
Similarappear
Note
7
public exhibitionnouncountable
An event where things or animals are put on display and often judged, sometimes with rides and fun.
The dog show attracts breeders from all over.
Her paintings are in a show downtown.
UsageSay a dog show or a flower show.
Similarexhibition, fair, exhibit, display, expo
8
verbtransitive or intransitive
To play a movie or TV program for people to watch, or of a movie or program, to be playing.
Our local theater will show the new cartoon all weekend.
There's nothing good showing on TV tonight, so let's play a game.
UsageSay what's showing at the cinema.
Similarscreen, air, broadcast, play
9
verbtransitive
To help someone learn to do something by doing it while they watch, or by telling them each step.
Can you show me how to use the new coffee machine?
My grandpa showed me how to tie a fishing hook when I was seven.
UsageSay show me how to use it.
Similarteach
10
offer (feeling)verbtransitive
To give someone a feeling or treatment, such as mercy, respect, or kindness.
The judge showed no mercy.
Please show some respect for your elders.
UsageSay show some respect.
Similargive, extend, grant, accord, display
Oppositewithhold, deny
Note
11
nouncountable
An act of making something clear to everyone, as in a show of strength.
The parade was a show of military power.
Can we have a show of hands?
UsageSay a show of hands.
Similardisplay, demonstration, exhibition
12
verbtransitive or intransitive
To let the public see art, animals, or goods at a gallery, fair, or contest, or to take part in one.
My aunt shows at the county fair every summer, and her goats often win prizes.
The young artist will show her paintings at a small gallery downtown.
Similarexhibit, display

Less common meanings

13
take somewhereverbtransitive
To take someone to a place, or lead them the way there.
Let me show you to your room.
The usher showed us to our seats.
UsageSay let me show you to your room.
Similarguide, lead, escort, take, usher
14
for looks onlynoununcountable
A way of looking or acting that is only meant to impress or fool people, with nothing real behind it.
The dog sounds fierce, but it's all show.
The guards at the gate are just for show.
Similarpretense, facade, front, sham
Oppositesubstance, reality, sincerity
Note
15
nouncountable or uncountable
A plan, event, or piece of work seen as something being put on.
Who is running this show?
It's her show now, so she makes the calls.
UsageSay who is running this show?
Similaroperation, project, affair
Note
16
reveal cardsverbintransitive
In card games, to turn your cards face up so the others can see them.
He called the bet and asked her to show.
Both players showed, and the pair of kings won.
Similarreveal
Note
17
finish thirdverbUSCanadaintransitive
In horse or dog racing, to come in third place.
Her horse showed, so the bet paid five dollars.
I bet on the gray to show.
Note
18
major leaguesnouncountable or uncountablewith the
In baseball, the major leagues, always said as the show.
After six years in the minors, he finally made the show.
Every kid on our Little League team dreams of playing in the show.
UsageSay he made the show.
Similarmajors, bigs
Oppositeminors
Note
19
before labornouncountable or uncountable
A small amount of blood-streaked mucus that comes from the vagina shortly before labor starts.
She noticed the show the night before the baby came.
A show can appear days before labor begins.
Note
20
nounarchaiccountable or uncountable
A sign or token of something, in older writing.
Note
21
verbobsolete
To look a certain way, well or badly, or to suit someone, an obsolete use.
My lord of York, it better showed with you.
c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth,. Epilogue.”Here, showed means seemed or suited, so it suited you better.
Note
22
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
The quality of seeming true or reasonable, an obsolete use.
Note
23
gas flamenounobsoletecountable or uncountable
In old mining, a pale blue cap on a candle flame that warned of explosive gas.
Note
24
verbtransitive
To let people see a feeling or quality in your face or actions, on purpose or not.
Try not to show how nervous you are before the test.
He showed great courage when he jumped into the river to save the dog.
UsageSay try not to show that you are nervous.
Similardisplay, reveal, express, exhibit
Oppositehide, conceal
Note
25
verbcolloquialtransitive
To prove people wrong by doing well after they doubted you, or to make someone sorry for treating you badly.
They laughed when I said I'd run a marathon, but I'll show them.
He took my seat, so I hid his phone. That'll show him!
UsageSay I'll show them! when people doubt you.
Similarteach
26
nounslang
In soldiers' slang, a battle or a fight going on nearby.
27
noun
A small piece of the woody stem left over when flax or hemp is cleaned.
Old houses in the north-east sometimes have a thick layer of flax waste or “shows” under the thatch.
1942, E[myr] Estyn Evans, Irish Heritage: The LandscapeHere, shows means bits of woody waste stripped from flax.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of show apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 5–6, 8–10, 12–13, 16–17, 21, 24–25

From Old English scēawian, meaning to look at or display. It came through Proto-Germanic and goes back to a very old root meaning to look or take note.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Show derives from Old English scēawian. en.wiktionary.org
Old English scēawian meant to look at or display. en.wiktionary.org
The word's ancestry passes through Proto-Germanic. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from an ancient root meaning to look or take note. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 3–4, 7, 11, 14–15, 18–20, 22–23

This noun comes from the verb 'show'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The noun show derives from the verb show. en.wiktionary.org