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SHOW
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected form: shown
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
Example:
a remarkable show of skill
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("show" is a kind of...):
amusement; entertainment (an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "show"):
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show; Wild West Show (a spectacular show organized in 1883 by William F. Cody that featured horseback riding and marksmanship on a large scale; toured the United States and Europe)
sideshow (a minor show that is part of a larger one (as at the circus))
road show (a show on tour)
demonstration (a show of military force or preparedness)
demonstration; presentation; presentment (a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view)
display; exhibit; showing (something shown to the public)
entr'acte; interlude; intermezzo (a brief show (music or dance etc) inserted between the sections of a longer performance)
ice show (any entertainment performed by ice skaters)
cabaret; floor show; floorshow (a series of acts at a night club)
circus (a performance given by a traveling company of acrobats, clowns, and trained animals)
raree-show (a street show)
horseshow (a competitive exhibition of horses)
dog show (a competitive exhibition of dogs)
carnival; fair; funfair (a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.)
Derivation:
show (give an exhibition of to an interested audience)
showy (displaying brilliance and virtuosity)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Pretending that something is the case in order to make a good impression
Example:
that ceremony is just for show
Synonyms:
appearance; show
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("show" is a kind of...):
feigning; pretence; pretending; pretense; simulation (the act of giving a false appearance)
Derivation:
showy (marked by ostentation but often tasteless)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A social event involving a public performance or entertainment
Example:
they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("show" is a kind of...):
social event (an event characteristic of persons forming groups)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "show"):
variety; variety show (a show consisting of a series of short unrelated performances)
puppet play; puppet show (a show in which the actors are puppets)
galanty show; shadow play; shadow show (a drama executed by throwing shadows on a wall)
play (a theatrical performance of a drama)
burlesque (a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease))
performance; public presentation (a dramatic or musical entertainment)
broadcast; program; programme (a radio or television show)
attraction (an entertainment that is offered to the public)
film; flick; motion-picture show; motion picture; movie; moving-picture show; moving picture; pic; picture; picture show (a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement)
choreography; stage dancing (a show involving artistic dancing)
Derivation:
show (give an exhibition of to an interested audience)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Something intended to communicate a particular impression
Example:
a good show of looking interested
Synonyms:
display; show
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("show" is a kind of...):
demo; demonstration (a visual presentation showing how something works)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "show"):
big stick (a display of force or power)
gaudery; pomp (cheap or pretentious or vain display)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they show ... he / she / it shows
Past simple: showed
Past participle: shown
-ing form: showing
Sense 1
Meaning:
Establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment
Example:
The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture
Synonyms:
demonstrate; establish; prove; shew; show
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
affirm; confirm; corroborate; substantiate; support; sustain (establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
stultify (prove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone's incompetence)
contradict; negate (prove negative; show to be false)
prove (prove formally; demonstrate by a mathematical, formal proof)
prove oneself (show one's ability or courage)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Sense 2
Meaning:
Indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments
Example:
The gauge read 'empty'
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
indicate (to state or express briefly)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
say (indicate)
show (give evidence of, as of records)
strike (indicate (a certain time) by striking)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Give evidence of, as of records
Example:
The diary shows his distress that evening
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
read; record; register; show (indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
attest (establish or verify the usage of)
surcharge (show an omission in (an account) for which credit ought to have been given)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 4
Meaning:
Indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
Example:
he indicated his opponents
Synonyms:
designate; indicate; point; show
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
reflect (manifest or bring back)
call attention; point out; signalise; signalize (point out carefully and clearly)
finger (indicate the fingering for the playing of musical scores for keyboard instruments)
point (indicate the presence of (game) by standing and pointing with the muzzle)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Sense 5
Meaning:
Give expression to
Example:
She showed her disappointment
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
convey ((of information) make known; pass on)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
smile (express with a smile)
beam (express with a beaming face or smile)
menace (express a threat either by an utterance or a gesture)
accent; accentuate; emphasise; emphasize; punctuate; stress (to stress, single out as important)
articulate; formulate; give voice; phrase; word (put into words or an expression)
give vent; vent; ventilate (give expression or utterance to)
exude (make apparent by one's mood or behavior)
give (manifest or show)
imply (suggest as a logically necessary consequence; in logic)
evoke; paint a picture; suggest (call to mind)
burst out (give sudden release to an expression)
connote; imply (express or state indirectly)
sneer (express through a scornful smile)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 6
Meaning:
Provide evidence for
Example:
Her behavior testified to her incompetence
Synonyms:
bear witness; evidence; prove; show; testify
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)
Domain category:
jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
attest; certify; demonstrate; evidence; manifest (provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes)
presume (constitute reasonable evidence for)
abduce; adduce; cite (advance evidence for)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Sentence example:
They show that there was a traffic accident
Sense 7
Meaning:
Finish third or better in a horse or dog race
Example:
he bet $2 on number six to show
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sense 8
Meaning:
Show in, or as in, a picture
Example:
the face of the child is rendered with much tenderness in this painting
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
interpret; represent (create an image or likeness of)
Domain category:
art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
map (depict as if on a map)
illustrate (depict with an illustration)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 9
Meaning:
Take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
Example:
The usher showed us to our seats
Synonyms:
show; usher
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
conduct; direct; guide; lead; take (take somebody somewhere)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
marshal (lead ceremoniously, as in a procession)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 10
Meaning:
Make visible or noticeable
Example:
Show me your etchings, please
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Cause:
see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
define; delineate (show the form or outline of)
etch (cause to stand out or be clearly defined or visible)
demo; demonstrate; exhibit; present; show (give an exhibition of to an interested audience)
bring out; reveal; unveil (make visible)
fly (display in the air or cause to float)
display; exhibit; expose (to show, make visible or apparent)
screen (project onto a screen for viewing)
flash (expose or show briefly)
do justice (bring out fully or to advantage)
project (project on a screen)
peep (cause to appear)
reflect (show an image of)
give (present to view)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Antonym:
hide (prevent from being seen or discovered)
Also:
show off (display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously)
Sense 11
Meaning:
Be or become visible or noticeable
Example:
The dirty side will show
Synonyms:
show; show up
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
appear (come into sight or view)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
register (show in one's face)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Sentence example:
The moon will soon show
Sense 12
Meaning:
Give an exhibition of to an interested audience
Example:
We will demo the new software in Washington
Synonyms:
demo; demonstrate; exhibit; present; show
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "show" is one way to...):
show (make visible or noticeable)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "show"):
bring home (make understandable and clear)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something
Sentence examples:
The parents show a French poem to the children
The parents show the children a French poem
Derivation:
show (the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining)
show (a social event involving a public performance or entertainment)
showing (something shown to the public)
showing (the display of a motion picture)
Context examples:
In nine cases out of ten a woman had better show more affection than she feels.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
The cystic spaces are surrounded by a spindle cell stroma which may show myxoid changes.
(Alveolar Adenoma, NCI Thesaurus)
Mr. Rochester continued—"Adele showed me some sketches this morning, which she said were yours.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
The leaves of that year had withered before my work drew near to a close, and now every day showed me more plainly how well I had succeeded.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
You are loved, and it shows.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
It was the way I wanted to go, and it showed signs of recent travel.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
All this I saw in the first glance after I crossed the threshold—child-like, according to my theory—and then Peggotty opened a little door and showed me my bedroom.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The older man is showing documents which are of evident value.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
That had given them an unfair advantage; but now that it was off, he would show them.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
A carcinoma that arises from the pancreas showing a mixture of ductal and neuroendocrine malignant cells in both the primary tumor and in the metastatic sites.
(Mixed Ductal-Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Pancreas, NCI Thesaurus)
