ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shown

v.
US //ˈʃoʊn// UK //ʃˈəʊn// shown
  1. 1 displayed or exhibited (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    used when something has been put in a place where people can see it.

    the past participle form used to indicate that an object or information has been made visible or public.

    Example

    The new film has been shown in theaters all over the country.

    Example

    The artifacts were shown to the public for the first time in decades, attracting historians from across the continent.

    Usage

    used as the past participle in passive voice and perfect tenses.
    Pitfall
    The movie was showed at the cinema.
    The movie was shown at the cinema.

    While 'showed' is the past simple, 'shown' is the standard past participle used in passive sentences.

  2. 2 proven or explained (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    used when a fact or a way of doing something has been made clear.

    the past participle form used to indicate that a fact, method, or truth has been demonstrated or established through evidence.

    Example

    Research has shown that eating breakfast helps you concentrate.

    Example

    The latest data has clearly shown a correlation between urban green spaces and the overall mental well-being of the local population.

    Usage

    often followed by a 'that' clause or an infinitive.
    • disproven
Origin

From Middle English schauen, schewen (past participle), alternative form of schawid, schewed, past participle of Middle English schewen (“to show”). Morphologically equivalent to show + -n.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026