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show

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show

  [shoh] verb, showed, shown or showed, show⋅ing, noun
Use show in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to cause or allow to be seen; exhibit; display.
2. to present or perform as a public entertainment or spectacle: to show a movie.
3. to indicate; point out: to show the way.
4. to guide, escort, or usher: He showed me to my room. Show her in.
5. to explain or make clear; make known: He showed what he meant.
6. to make known to; inform, instruct, or prove to: I'll show you what I mean.
7. to prove; demonstrate: His experiment showed the falsity of the theory.
8. to indicate, register, or mark: The thermometer showed 10 below zero.
9. to exhibit or offer for sale: to show a house.
10. to allege, as in a legal document; plead, as a reason or cause.
11. to produce, as facts in an affidavit or at a hearing.
12. to express or make evident by appearance, behavior, speech, etc.: to show one's feelings.
13. to accord or grant (favor, kindness, etc.): He showed mercy in his decision.
–verb (used without object)
14. to be seen; be or become visible: Does my slip show?
15. to be seen in a certain way: to show to advantage.
16. to put on an exhibition or performance; display one's goods or products: Several dress designers are showing in New York now.
17. Informal. to be present or keep an appointment; show up: He said he would be there, but he didn't show.
18. to finish third in a horse race, harness race, etc.
–noun
19. a theatrical production, performance, or company.
20. a radio or television program.
21. a motion picture.
22. an exposition for dealers or the public of products by various manufacturers in a particular industry, usually held in an exhibition hall, convention facility, or the like: the annual boat show.
23. any kind of public exhibition or exposition: a show of Renoirs.
24. ostentatious display: nothing but mere show.
25. a display, exhibition, or demonstration: a true show of freedom.
26. an indication; trace: He frowned on the slightest show of emotion.
27. the position of the competitor who comes in third in a horse race, harness race, etc. Compare place (def. 27b), win 1 (def. 16).
28. appearance; impression: to make a sorry show.
29. a sight or spectacle.
30. an unreal or deceptive appearance: The actress's tears had the show of grief.
31. an act or instance of showing.
32. a motion-picture theater.
33. Informal. a chance: to get a fair show.
34. Medicine/Medical.
a. the first appearance of blood at the onset of menstruation.
b. a blood-tinged mucous discharge from the vagina that indicates the onset of labor.
35. Chiefly British Informal. any undertaking, group of persons, event, etc.; affair; thing.
—Verb phrases
36. show off,
a. to display ostentatiously: The parade was designed to show off all the latest weapons of war.
b. to seek to gain attention by displaying prominently one's abilities or accomplishments.
37. show up,
a. to make known, as faults; expose; reveal.
b. to exhibit in a certain way; appear: White shows up well against a blue background.
c. to come to or arrive at a place: We waited for two hours, but he didn't show up.
d. to make (another) seem inferior; outdo.
—Idioms
38. make a show of, to be ostentatious about; affect: Whenever there are visitors, the bosses make a show of being nice to their employees.
39. run the show, to control a business, situation, etc.; be in charge: My father runs the show in our house.
40. steal the show,
a. to usurp the credit or get the applause for something: That woman can act, but the child stole the show. He did all the work, but his partner stole the show.
b. to be the most pleasing or spectacular item or person in a group.
41. stop the show, to win such enthusiastic applause that a theatrical performance is temporarily interrupted.
Origin:
bef. 900; (v.) ME showen, s(c)hewen to look at, show, OE scēawian to look at; c. D schowen, G schauen; (n.) ME s(c)hew(e), deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
show⋅a⋅ble, adjective
showless, adjective

Synonyms:
4. lead, conduct. 5. interpret, clarify, elucidate; reveal, disclose, divulge. 10. assert, affirm. 13. bestow, confer. 23. spectacle. 24, 25. Show, display, ostentation, pomp suggest the presentation of a more or less elaborate, often pretentious, appearance for the public to see. Show often indicates an external appearance that may or may not accord with actual facts: a show of modesty. Display applies to an intentionally conspicuous show: a great display of wealth. Ostentation is vain, ambitious, pretentious, or offensive display: tasteless and vulgar ostentation. Pomp suggests such a show of dignity and authority as characterizes a ceremony of state: The coronation was carried out with pomp and ceremonial. 30. deception, pretense, simulation, illusion.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To show
show   (shō)   
v.   showed, shown (shōn) or showed, show·ing, shows

v.   tr.

    1. To cause or allow to be seen; display.

    2. To display for sale, in exhibition, or in competition: showed her most recent paintings.

    3. To demonstrate by reasoning or procedure: showed that the hypothesis was wrong; a film that showed how to tune a piano.

    4. To demonstrate to by reasoning or procedure; inform or prove to: showed him how to fix the camera; showed her that it could really happen.

  2. To conduct; guide: showed them to the table.

  3. To direct one's attention to; point out: show them the biggest squash in the garden.

  4. To manifest (an emotion or condition, for example); reveal: showed displeasure at his remark; a carpet that shows wear.

  5. To permit access to (a house, for example) when offering for sale or rent.

  6. To reveal (oneself) as in one's behavior or condition: The old boat showed itself to be seaworthy.

  7. To indicate; register: The altimeter showed that the plane was descending.

    1. To demonstrate by reasoning or procedure: showed that the hypothesis was wrong; a film that showed how to tune a piano.

    2. To demonstrate to by reasoning or procedure; inform or prove to: showed him how to fix the camera; showed her that it could really happen.

  9. To grant; bestow: showed no mercy to the traitors.

  10. Law To plead; allege: show cause.

v.   intr.

  1. To be or become visible or evident.

  2. Slang To make an appearance; show up: didn't show for her appointment.

    1. To be exhibited publicly: What's showing at the movie theater tonight?

    2. To give a performance or present an exhibition.

  4. Sports To finish third or better in a horserace or dog race.

n.  

  1. A display; a manifestation: made a show of strength.

    1. A trace or indication, as of oil in a well.

    2. The discharge of bloody mucus from the vagina indicating the start of labor.

    3. The first discharge of blood in menstruation.

    4. A striking appearance or display; a spectacle.

    5. A pompous or ostentatious display.

    6. A public exhibition or entertainment.

    7. An exposition for the display or demonstration of commercial products: an auto show.

    8. A usually competitive exhibition of domestic animals: won first place at the cat show.

    9. A radio or television program.

    10. A movie.

    11. A theatrical troupe or company.

  3. A false appearance; a pretense: only a show of kindness.

    1. A striking appearance or display; a spectacle.

    2. A pompous or ostentatious display.

    3. A public exhibition or entertainment.

    4. An exposition for the display or demonstration of commercial products: an auto show.

    5. A usually competitive exhibition of domestic animals: won first place at the cat show.

    6. A radio or television program.

    7. A movie.

    8. A theatrical troupe or company.

  5. Display or outward appearance: This antique tea service is just for show. His smile was for show.

    1. A public exhibition or entertainment.

    2. An exposition for the display or demonstration of commercial products: an auto show.

    3. A usually competitive exhibition of domestic animals: won first place at the cat show.

    4. A radio or television program.

    5. A movie.

    6. A theatrical troupe or company.

    1. A radio or television program.

    2. A movie.

    3. A theatrical troupe or company.

  8. Informal An affair or undertaking: ran the whole show.

  9. Sports Third place at the finish, as in a horserace.

  10. To be clearly visible.

  11. To put in an appearance; arrive.

  12. To expose or reveal the true character or nature of: showed their efforts up as a waste of time.

  13. Informal To surpass, as in ability or intelligence.

Phrasal Verb(s):
show offTo display or behave in an ostentatious or conspicuous way.
show up

  1. To be clearly visible.

  2. To put in an appearance; arrive.

  3. To expose or reveal the true character or nature of: showed their efforts up as a waste of time.

  4. Informal To surpass, as in ability or intelligence.


Idiom(s):
get the show on the road Slang To get started.

Idiom(s):
show (one's) hand

  1. Games To display one's cards with faces up.

  2. To state one's intentions or reveal one's resources, especially when previously hidden.


Idiom(s):
show (one's) heelsTo depart from quickly; flee.

Idiom(s):
show (someone) a good timeTo occupy (someone) with amusing things; entertain.

[Middle English sheuen, shouen, from Old English scēawian, to look at, display.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to present something to view. Show is the most general: "She hated to show her feelings" (John Galsworthy).
Display often suggests an attempt to present something to best advantage: The dealer spread the rug out to display the pattern.
Expose usually involves uncovering something or bringing it out from concealment: The excavation exposed a staggering number of artifacts.
The term can often imply revelation of something better left concealed: Your comment exposes your insensitivity.
Parade usually suggests a pretentious or boastful presentation: "He early discovered that, by parading his unhappiness before the multitude, he produced an immense sensation" (Thomas Macaulay).
Exhibit implies open presentation that invites inspection: "The works of art, by being publicly exhibited and offered for sale, are becoming articles of trade" (Prince Albert).
Flaunt implies an unabashed, prideful, often arrogant display: "Every great hostelry flaunted the flag of some foreign potentate" (John Dos Passos). See Also Synonyms at appear.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

show  (v.)
O.E. sceawian "to look at, see," from W.Gmc. *skauwojanan (cf. O.S. skauwon "to look at," O.Fris. skawia, Du. schouwen, O.H.G. scouwon "to look at;" Du. schoon, Goth. skaunjai "beautiful," originally "conspicuous"), from P.Gmc. root *skau- "behold, look at," from PIE *skou-, variant of base *skeue- "to pay attention, perceive" (see caveat). Causal meaning "let be seen, put in sight, make known" evolved c.1200 for unknown reasons and is unique to Eng. (Ger. schauen still means "look at"). Spelling shew, popular 18c. and surviving into early 19c., represents obsolete pronunciation (rhymes with view).

show  (n.)
c.1300, "act of exhibiting to view," from show (v.). Sense of "appearance put on with intention to deceive" is recorded from c.1526. Meaning "display, spectacle" is first recorded 1561; that of "ostentatious display" is from 1713 (showy is from 1712). Sense of "entertainment program on radio or TV" is first recorded 1932. Meaning "third place in a horse race" is from 1925, Amer.Eng. Show of hands is attested from 1789; Phrase for show "for appearance's sake" is from c.1700. Show business is attested from 1850; shortened form show biz first attested 1945. Expression the show must go on is first attested 1941. Show-stopper is from 1926; show trial first recorded 1937.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: show
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: showed; shown or showed; show·ing
: to demonstrate or establish by argument, reasoning, or evidence show a compelling need for the court action>—show cause : to establish by reasoning and evidence a valid reason for something show cause —J. H. Williamson> show cause why the petition may not be granted>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: show
Pronunciation: 'shO
Function: noun
1 : a discharge of mucus streaked with blood from the vagina at the onset of labor
2 : the first appearance of blood in a menstrual period
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

show (shō)
n.

  1. The first discharge of blood in menstruation.

  2. The discharge of bloody mucus from the vagina indicating the start of labor.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

show

In addition to the idioms beginning with show, also see bare (show) one's teeth; dog-and-pony show; false colors, show; for show; get the show on the road; go to show; know (show) the ropes; one-man show; road show; run the show; steal the show; (show one's) true colors.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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