Forms
Infinitive
show
Past
showed
Past participle
shown / showed
Definitions
01to let someone see
A1 · Beginner
v. to let someone see something or to put it where it can be seen.
v. to display something or allow it to be perceived by others. Transitive — requires a direct object.
日本語:見せる※
“Can you show me your holiday photos on your phone?”
“The gallery owner decided to show the artist's early sketches alongside the finished oil paintings to illustrate her creative process.”
02to explain or prove
A2 · Elementary
v. to explain how to do something or to prove that a fact is true.
v. to demonstrate a process or establish the validity of a fact through evidence or logic.
日本語:示す※
“The teacher will show us how to solve the math problem.”
“Recent data clearly show that consumer spending habits have shifted toward online platforms during the last fiscal quarter.”
Synonyms
03to be visible
B1 · Intermediate
v. to be seen or to appear, often by accident.
v. to be visible or to become apparent. Intransitive — does not take a direct object.
“The dirt on his white shirt really started to show after the game.”
“Despite her attempts to remain calm, a hint of frustration began to show in her voice during the long negotiation.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04to arrive
B1 · Intermediate Informal
v. to arrive at a place where people are waiting for you.
v. to put in an appearance or arrive at a scheduled event. Often used as a shortened form of the phrasal verb 'show up'.
“We waited for an hour, but he didn't show.”
“If the witness fails to show for the hearing tomorrow, the judge may be forced to dismiss the case entirely.”
05entertainment
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a television program, a play, or a musical performance.
n. a theatrical performance, broadcast program, or other organized entertainment event.
“What time does your favorite TV show start tonight?”
“The Broadway show received rave reviews from critics, leading to a massive surge in ticket sales for the winter season.”
Synonyms
06an exhibition
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a collection of things, like cars or flowers, put in one place for people to look at.
n. a public exhibition or display of items, often for competition or commercial purposes.
“We went to the local boat show to see the new models.”
“The annual horticultural show attracts gardeners from across the country who compete for the prestigious Best in Category award.”
Synonyms
07false appearance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something done just to impress people, even if it is not real or sincere.
n. an outward display or affectation intended to impress or deceive, often lacking underlying substance.
“He isn't really that rich; the expensive car is just for show.”
“The company's commitment to environmental reform was largely a show designed to appease shareholders rather than a genuine policy shift.”
08medical sign
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a small amount of blood that shows a woman will soon give birth.
n. a discharge of blood-stained mucus from the vagina occurring shortly before the onset of labour.
“The midwife told her that a show is a normal sign that labor is starting.”
“The patient reported a bloody show early in the morning, suggesting that the first stage of labour was imminent.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “show” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English schewen, from Old English scēawian (“to look, look at, exhibit, display”), from Proto-West Germanic skauwōn, from Proto-Germanic skawwōną (“to look, see”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewh₁- (“to heed, look, feel, take note of”); see haw, gaum, caveat, caution. Cognate with Scots shaw (“to show”), Dutch schouwen (“to inspect, view”), German schauen (“to see, behold”), Danish skue (“to behold”). Related to sheen. Wider cognates include Ancient Greek κῦδος (kûdos), Latin caveō whence English caution and caveat, Sanskrit कवि (kaví, “seer, prophet, bard”), Proto-Slavic *čuti (whence Russian чу́ять (čújatʹ) and many more).
From Middle English schewe, from the verb (schewen).
Variant of shove, itself a variant of shive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
PHRASAL VERB
Idioms
03. have something to show for something
04. horror show
07. run the show
08. show a clean pair of heels
09. show a leg
10. show ankle
Show all 26
11. show colour
12. show off
13. show one's butt
14. show one's cards
15. show one's teeth
19. show someone a thing or two
20. show someone one's etchings
22. show the flag
23. show up
24. show who's boss
25. steal the show
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/show
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR