showverb
uk/ʃəʊ/us/ʃoʊ/showed, shownshow verb (MAKE SEEN)
A1 [ T ] to make it possible for something to be seen:
More examples
- Cracks began to show in his facade of self-confidence.
- She was asked to show her press credentials.
- Mum dug out some old family photos to show me.
- Let me show you Pat's embroideries.
- Shall I show you my new dress?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- prove
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- signify
- speak
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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show verb (RECORD)
B1 [ T ] to record or express a number or measurement:
More examples
- It's important to show some consistency in your work.
- Early vote counts show Mr Adams in the lead.
- Recently published figures show a divergence from previous trends.
- This screen shows the route the ship is taking.
- The graph shows population increase.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Measuring & weighing
- cost-of-living index
- decibel
- life-size
- measure sb/sth up
- measure sth out
- measurement
- mmHg
- mmol
- pace
- pinhole
- plumb
- point
- quantifiable
- quantum
- record
- short
- sound
- timer
- tolerance
- unit
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show verb (EXPLAIN)
B1 [ T ] to explain something to someone, by doing it or by giving instructions or examples:
More examples
- For a small consideration, madam, I'll show you the way there myself.
- Can you show me how to turn the computer on?
- Zoe will show you what you need to do.
- These diagrams show you how to fix the child seat in the car.
- Shona showed me how to make a great omelette.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- prove
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- signify
- speak
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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show verb (PROVE)
B2 [ T ] to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known:
More examples
- Does the market research show that the product will succeed commercially ?
- The opinion polls show the three election candidates in a dead heat (with each other).
- These facts alone show that he's not to be trusted.
- Empirical studies show that some forms of alternative medicine are extremely effective.
- Surveys show that animal welfare has recently become a major concern for many schoolchildren.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Proving and disproving
- actions speak louder than words idiom
- attest
- authenticate
- back sb up
- bear witness (to sth) idiom
- belie
- catch
- colour
- do justice to yourself idiom
- documentary
- establish
- evidence
- explode
- explosion
- proof
- supportable
- testament
- the acid test
- the burden of proof idiom
- undocumented
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show verb (EXPRESS)
B2 [ T ] to express ideas or feelings using actions or words:
More examples
- The new daytime soap opera has yet to show signs that it's clicking with the television audience.
- I was hoping she might show a little compassion.
- Could you turn your music down and show a little consideration for the neighbours!
- We need to show a bit of cunning if we want to trick the enemy.
- We are demonstrating to show our anger and disgust at the treatment of refugees.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- prove
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- signify
- speak
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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show verb (NOTICEABLE)
C1 [ I ] to be easy to see or notice:
to look as old as you really are:
More examples
- I was really angry, but I hope it didn't show.
- The stains don't really show on the brown carpet.
- He's been doing much more piano practice and it really shows.
- The ink shows through the paper.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Visible
- (as) large as life idiom
- discernible
- eye-catching
- full
- high-visibility
- large
- mile
- noticeable
- out
- perceptible
- prominent
- relief
- sore
- stand
- stand (out) in relief idiom
- stand/stick out like a sore thumb idiom
- stick
- stick out
- visibility
- visible
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
show verb (PUBLIC EVENT)
[ T ] to make an artist's work available for the public to see:
[ I or T ] If a cinema or television station shows a film or programme, or if a film or programme is showing somewhere, you can see it there:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Exhibiting and exhibitions
- exhibit
- exhibition
- exhibitor
- expo
- exposition
- fashion show
- open day
- open house
- premiere
- preview
- retrospective
- showcase
- showing
- viewing
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
show verb (ARRIVE)
[ I ] mainly US to show up
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Arriving, entering and invading
- annex
- barge
- barge in
- be on the scene idiom
- been
- breaking and entering idiom
- bugger
- go down
- hit
- hove
- intrusion
- invade
- keep (sb/sth) out
- land
- let
- let sb/sth in
- loom
- pile
- pitch invasion
- rock
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show verb (LEAD)
[ T usually + adv/prep ] to take someone somewhere by going there with them:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Taking someone somewhere or telling them the way
- accompany
- bring
- bring sb/sth along
- chaperone
- come along
- convoy
- direct
- docent
- drop
- guide
- lead 1
- refer sb to sth/sb
- see sb off
- shepherd
- show sb around (sth)
- show sb over sth
- stick
- usher
- usherette
- walk
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show verb (FAIL TO HIDE)
[ T ] to fail to hide something, or to make it possible to see or know something that is not intended to be seen or known:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- prove
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- signify
- speak
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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show verb (MAKE UNDERSTAND)
[ T + obj + question word ] to make someone understand something by directing their attention to it:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- prove
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- signify
- speak
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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Idiom(s)
Phrasal verb(s)
shownoun
uk/ʃəʊ/us/ʃoʊ/show noun (ENTERTAINMENT)
A2 [ C ] a theatre performance or a television or radio programme that is entertaining rather than serious:
More examples
- People came from afar to see the show.
- She comperes that awful game show on Saturday night.
- A crowd congregated around the entrance to the theatre, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars of the show.
- The Circus has been described as the greatest show on earth .
- We can either eat now or after the show - it's up to you.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Spectacles & performances
- amateur dramatics
- amateur theater
- barnstorm
- bullfight
- co-production
- command performance
- curtain-raiser
- double bill
- mano a mano
- performance
- performance art
- premiere
- Punch and Judy show
- pyrotechnics
- spot
- tableau
- talent contest
- tattoo
- theatricals
- variety
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
show noun (PUBLIC EVENT)
B2 [ C ] an event at which a group of related things are available for the public to look at:
C1 Something that is on show has been made available for the public to look at:
More examples
- His dog won best of breed at the show.
- The climax of the air show was a flying display.
- She was doing a flower arrangement for the village show.
- There is a show of local painters' work in the village hall.
- There was an exhibition of sheep shearing at the county show.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Exhibiting and exhibitions
- exhibit
- exhibition
- exhibitor
- expo
- exposition
- fashion show
- open day
- open house
- premiere
- preview
- retrospective
- showcase
- showing
- viewing
show noun (EXPRESSION)
[ C ] an action that makes other people know what your feelings, beliefs, or qualities are:
an activity or piece of work that appears to be done with great, little, etc. effort:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- prove
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- signify
- speak
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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show noun (FALSE APPEARANCE)
[ C ] an appearance of something that is not really sincere or real:
Something that is for show has no practical value and is used only to improve the appearance of something else:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Affected & insincere
- affectation
- affected
- artificial
- artsy-fartsy
- arty-farty
- cheesy
- fey
- forced
- glib
- histrionic
- histrionics
- hollowly
- meretricious
- pious
- preciously
- precocious
- pretension
- pretentious
- pseud
- slick
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
show noun (ACTIVITY)
[ U ] informal an activity, business, or organization, considered in relation to who is managing it:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Acting and acts
- (your) every move idiom
- -ation
- act/do sth on your own responsibility idiom
- action
- activity
- agency
- ant
- be up to sth idiom
- feel
- gambit
- get around to sth
- give yourself over/up to sth
- go about sth
- go about your business idiom
- go through with sth
- hand
- manoeuvring
- talk
- talk the talk idiom
- up to
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show noun (BLOOD)
[ C ] specialized medical a small amount of blood and mucus (= thick liquid) that comes out of the vagina at the start of labour (= the process of giving birth):
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Obstetrics: birth
- antenatal
- bear
- birth defect
- born
- born
- breech
- C-section
- caesarean
- childbirth
- contraction
- delivery
- give birth idiom
- induce
- maternity ward
- midwifery
- obstetric
- posh
- prenatal
- puerperal
- rooming-in
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