show Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
    • a remarkable show of skill
  2. noun something intended to communicate a particular impression
    display.
    • made a display of strength
    • a show of impatience
    • a good show of looking interested
  3. noun a social event involving a public performance or entertainment
    • they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway
  4. noun pretending that something is the case in order to make a good impression
    appearance.
    • they try to keep up appearances
    • that ceremony is just for show
  5. verb give an exhibition of to an interested audience
    exhibit; demo; demonstrate; present.
    • She shows her dogs frequently
    • We will demo the new software in Washington
  6. verb establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment
    shew; demonstrate; establish; prove.
    • The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound
    • The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture
  7. verb provide evidence for
    evidence; testify; bear witness; prove.
    • The blood test showed that he was the father
    • Her behavior testified to her incompetence
  8. verb make visible or noticeable
    • She showed her talent for cooking
    • Show me your etchings, please
  9. verb show in, or as in, a picture
    picture; depict; render.
    • This scene depicts country life
    • the face of the child is rendered with much tenderness in this painting
  10. verb give expression to
    evince; express.
    • She showed her disappointment
  11. verb indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
    indicate; designate; point.
    • I showed the customer the glove section
    • He pointed to the empty parking space
    • he indicated his opponents
  12. verb be or become visible or noticeable
    show up.
    • His good upbringing really shows
    • The dirty side will show
  13. verb indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments
    read; record; register.
    • The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero
    • The gauge read `empty'
  14. verb give evidence of, as of records
    • The diary shows his distress that evening
  15. verb take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
    usher.
    • The usher showed us to our seats
  16. verb finish third or better in a horse or dog race
    • he bet $2 on number six to show

WordNet

Show transitive verb
Etymology
OE. schowen, shewen, schewen, shawen, AS. sceáwian, to look, see, view; akin to OS. scawn, OFries. skawia, D. schouwen, OHG. scouwn, G. schauen, Dan. skue, Sw. skda, Icel. skoa, Goth. usskawjan to waken, skuggwa a mirror, Icel. skuggy shade, shadow, L. cavere to be on one's guard, Gr. to mark, perceive, hear, Skr. kavi wise. Cf. Caution, Scavenger, Sheen.
Wordforms
imperfect Showed ; past participle Shown or Showed; present participle & verbal noun Showing It is sometimes written shew, shewed, shewn, shewing
Definitions
  1. To exhibit or present to view; to place in sight; to display; -- the thing exhibited being the object, and often with an indirect object denoting the person or thing seeing or beholding; as, to show a house; show your colors; shopkeepers show customers goods (show goods to customers).
    Go thy way, shew thyself to the priest. Matt. viii. 4.
    Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can heaven show more? Milton.
  2. To exhibit to the mental view; to tell; to disclose; to reveal; to make known; as, to show one's designs.
    Shew them the way wherein they must walk. Ex. xviii. 20.
    If it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away. 1 Sam. xx. 13.
  3. Specifically, to make known the way to (a person); hence, to direct; to guide; to asher; to conduct; as, to show a person into a parlor; to show one to the door.
  4. To make apparent or clear, as by evidence, testimony, or reasoning; to prove; to explain; also, to manifest; to evince; as, to show the truth of a statement; to show the causes of an event.
    I 'll show my duty by my timely care. Dryden.
  5. To bestow; to confer; to afford; as, to show favor.
    Shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me. Ex. xx. 6.
Show intransitive verb
Etymology
Written also shew.
Definitions
  1. To exhibit or manifest one's self or itself; to appear; to look; to be in appearance; to seem.
    Just such she shows before a rising storm. Dryden.
    All round a hedge upshoots, and shows At distance like a little wood. Tennyson.
  2. To have a certain appearance, as well or ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.
    My lord of York, it better showed with you. Shak.
Show noun
Etymology
Formerly written also shew.
Definitions
  1. The act of showing, or bringing to view; exposure to sight; exhibition.
  2. That which os shown, or brought to view; that which is arranged to be seen; a spectacle; an exhibition; as, a traveling show; a cattle show.
    As for triumphs, masks, feasts, and such shows. Bacon.
  3. Proud or ostentatious display; parade; pomp.
    I envy none their pageantry and show. Young.
  4. Semblance; likeness; appearance.
    He through the midst unmarked, In show plebeian angel militant Of lowest order, passed. Milton.
  5. False semblance; deceitful appearance; pretense.
    Beware of the scribes, . . . which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers. Luke xx. 46. 47.
  6. (Med.) A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occuring a short time before labor.
  7. (Mining) A pale blue flame, at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of fire damp. Raymond.

Webster 1913