English Reference

Word

show

US/ˈʃoʊ/

UK/ʃˈəʊ/

Irregular verb

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.

“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.”

Antonyms

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.

“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.”

Antonyms

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

appearbe visible

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.”

Synonyms

arriveappearturn up

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.”

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.”

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.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

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

bloody show

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “show” in context.

01. analysis show 02. calculation show 03. colleague show 04. data show 05. diagram show 06. finding show 07. likewise show 08. previously show 09. research show 10. show association 11. show characteristic 12. show consistency

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

show(A1)

ADJECTIVE

PHRASAL VERB

Idioms

Domains

MedicineMilitaryMining

This entry

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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English Reference