show-off
1 of 2noun
ˈshō-ˌȯf 
often attributive
1
: the act of showing off
2
: one that shows off : exhibitionist
show-offy
ˈshō-ˌȯ-fē
adjective show off
2 of 2verb
showed off; shown off or showed off; showing off; shows off
transitive verb
: to display proudly
wanted to show our new car off
intransitive verb
: to seek to attract attention by conspicuous behavior
boys showing off for the girls
Synonyms
Verb
- act up
- clown (around)
- cut up
- fool around
- horse around
- hotdog
- monkey (around)
- showboat
- skylark
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Recent Examples on the Web
WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 Use it to tug up your shirt and show off a sliver of skin or your belly button ring. Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 12 Sep. 2022 In place of personal style, there is a performative exercise to buy and show off the It-item or -aesthetic of the month, and then throw it away when the algorithm tunes it out. Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Looking for the next big battle scene to build and show off? Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2022 Olivia Wilde and boyfriend Harry Styles couldn't help but show off their love while on a rare date night in New York City. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Aug. 2022 Brand Ambassadors Brands are used to using influencers to promote and show off their products and services across social media. Bernard Marr, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Madonna helped put the coin-purse-size bag on Fallon, who proceeded to get out of his seat and show off his sparkly new addition. Emma Becker, Peoplemag, 11 Aug. 2022 More than 500 people were in Peck Park in the city’s San Pedro neighborhood Sunday afternoon to watch the softball teams play, barbecue with family and friends, and to show off and check out low-rider vehicles when chaos ensued. Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, 26 July 2022 See More
Verb
And sure, such interactions ramp up the immersive factor and show off what the tech is capable of. WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 Use it to tug up your shirt and show off a sliver of skin or your belly button ring. Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 12 Sep. 2022 In place of personal style, there is a performative exercise to buy and show off the It-item or -aesthetic of the month, and then throw it away when the algorithm tunes it out. Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Looking for the next big battle scene to build and show off? Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2022 Olivia Wilde and boyfriend Harry Styles couldn't help but show off their love while on a rare date night in New York City. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Aug. 2022 Brand Ambassadors Brands are used to using influencers to promote and show off their products and services across social media. Bernard Marr, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Madonna helped put the coin-purse-size bag on Fallon, who proceeded to get out of his seat and show off his sparkly new addition. Emma Becker, Peoplemag, 11 Aug. 2022 More than 500 people were in Peck Park in the city’s San Pedro neighborhood Sunday afternoon to watch the softball teams play, barbecue with family and friends, and to show off and check out low-rider vehicles when chaos ensued. Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, 26 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1750, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
show-off
noun
ˈshō-ˌȯf
: a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions
showing off
verb
1
as in cutting up
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cutting up
- horsing around
- acting up
- fooling around
- clowning (around)
- monkeying (around)
- carrying on
- showboating
- reveling
- hotdogging
- roaring
- skylarking
- revelling
- misbehaving
- romping
- cavorting
- capering
- gamboling
- frisking
- rollicking
- larking
- frolicking
- roughhousing
- carousing
- wassailing
- mafficking
- gambolling
- disporting
2
as in displaying
to present so as to invite notice or attention she just wants to show off her new jewelry Synonyms & Similar Words
- displaying
- exhibiting
- flashing
- showing
- unveiling
- laying out
- announcing
- waving
- exposing
- producing
- flaunting
- parading
- sporting
- strutting
- advertising
- revealing
- proclaiming
- telling (of)
- disporting
- posting
- broadcasting
- airing
- flourishing
- brandishing
- talking (about)
- discovering
- placarding
- publicizing
- divulging
- blazing
- heralding
- trumpeting
- baring
- sounding
- uncovering
- unmasking
- uncloaking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- masking
- covering
- disguising
- hiding
- camouflaging
- concealing
- obscuring
- occluding
- shrouding
- enshrouding
- veiling
- curtaining
- occulting