Word
Definition
adj. describing something that is bright, loud, or very noticeable because it wants to attract attention. It often has a slightly negative meaning, suggesting that the thing is more about looking good than being useful.
adj. attracting attention through bright colors, loud sounds, or ostentatious display. Often carries a pejorative nuance, implying that the object is more concerned with appearance than with substance.
Examples
“The garden is full of showy flowers that bloom in the summer.”
“The new car has a showy paint job and expensive wheels, but it doesn't handle the road very well.”
“While the architect's initial sketches were praised for their showy complexity, the final building was criticized for being more of a visual spectacle than a functional space for the community.”
Examples
simple
“The garden is full of showy flowers that bloom in the summer.”
contextual
“The new car has a showy paint job and expensive wheels, but it doesn't handle the road very well.”
complex
“While the architect's initial sketches were praised for their showy complexity, the final building was criticized for being more of a visual spectacle than a functional space for the community.”
Etymology
From show (noun) + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/showy
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0