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show definition

Overview

This page has 51 definitions of show with English translations in 13 languages. Show is a verb, noun and adjective. Examples of how to use show in a sentence are shown. Also define these 0 related words and terms: .

See also: Show

English show definition

Alternative forms

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 Sanskrit कवि (kaví, seer, prophet, bard).

Pronunciation

Verb

show (third-person singular simple present shows, present participle showing, simple past showed or (archaic) shew, past participle shown or (now rare, US) showed)

  1. (transitive) To display, to have somebody see (something).
    The car's dull finish showed years of neglect.
    All he had to show for four years of attendance at college was a framed piece of paper.
    • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
      Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part. Thus outraged, she showed herself to be a bold as well as a furious virago. Next day she found her way to their lodgings and tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head.
  2. (transitive) To bestow; to confer.
    to show mercy; to show favour; (dialectal) show me the salt please
  3. (transitive) To indicate (a fact) to be true; to demonstrate.
  4. (transitive) To guide or escort.
    Could you please show him on his way. He has overstayed his welcome.
    They showed us in.
  5. (intransitive) To be visible; to be seen; to appear.
    Your bald patch is starting to show.
    At length, his gloom showed.
    • 1690, [John] Dryden, Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: [], London: [] Jo. Hindmarsh, [], →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
      Just such she shows before a rising storm.
    • 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “The Day-Dream. The Sleeping Palace.”, in Poems. [], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, [], →OCLC, page 151:
      All round a hedge upshoots, and shows / At distance like a little wood.
    • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
      'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
  6. (intransitive, informal) To put in an appearance; show up.
    We waited for an hour, but they never showed.
  7. (intransitive, informal) To have an enlarged belly and thus be recognizable as pregnant.
  8. (intransitive, motor racing) To finish third, especially of horses or dogs.
    In the third race: Aces Up won, paying eight dollars; Blarney Stone placed, paying three dollars; and Cinnamon showed, paying five dollars.
  9. (intransitive, card games) To reveal one's hand of cards.
    • 2017, Nathan Schwiethale, Ace High: Mastering Low Stakes Poker Cash Games, page 70:
      He called instantly but was too ashamed to show until the river.
  10. (obsolete) To have a certain appearance, such as well or ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.

Usage notes

  • The past participle shown was uncommon before the 19th century, but is now the preferred form in standard English. In the UK, showed is regarded as archaic or dialectal. In the US, it is considered a standard variant form, but shown is more common. Garner's Modern American Usage favors shown over showed as past participle and claims it is mandatory for passives.
  • In the past, shew was used as a past-tense form and shewed as a past participle of this verb; both forms are now archaic.

Conjugation

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Dictionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

Noun

show (countable and uncountable, plural shows)

  1. (countable) A play, dance, or other entertainment.
    There were a thousand people at the show.
    • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 4, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
      Then he commenced to talk, really talk. and inside of two flaps of a herring's fin he had me mesmerized, like Eben Holt's boy at the town hall show. He talked about the ills of humanity, and the glories of health and Nature and service and land knows what all.
  2. (countable) An exhibition of items.
    art show;  dog show
  3. (countable) A broadcast program, especially a light entertainment program.
    radio show;  television show
    They performed in the show.
    I spotted my neighbour on the morning TV show.
  4. (countable) A movie.
    Let's catch a show.
  5. (Australia, New Zealand, countable) An agricultural show.
    I'm taking the kids to the show on Tuesday.
    • 1924 October 6, The Examiner, Launceston, page 2, column 6:
      E. C. McEnulty, who won the chop at the show on Thursday, cut through a foot lying block in 34 seconds
  6. A project or presentation.
    Let's get on with the show.
    Let's get this show on the road.
    They went on an international road show to sell the shares to investors.
    It was Apple's usual dog and pony show.
  7. (countable) A demonstration.
    show of force
  8. (uncountable) Mere display or pomp with no substance. (Usually seen in the phrases "all show" and "for show".)
    • 1725–1728, [Edward Young], “(please specify the page)”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: [] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson [], published 1741, →OCLC:
      I envy none their pageantry and show.
    The dog sounds ferocious but it's all show.
  9. Outward appearance; wileful or deceptive appearance.
  10. (baseball, with "the") The major leagues.
    He played AA ball for years, but never made it to the show.
  11. (mining, obsolete) A pale blue flame at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of firedamp[1].
  12. (archaic) Pretence.
  13. (archaic) Sign, token, or indication.
  14. (obsolete) Semblance; likeness; appearance.
  15. (obsolete) Plausibility.
  16. (medicine) A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occurring a short time before labor.
  17. (military, slang) A battle; local conflict. [1892[2]]
    • 1918, Denis Garstin, The Shilling Soldiers[1], London: Hodder and Stoughton, page 116:
      A subaltern, wearing a glengarry, came out of a house, playing with the nose of a shell. He walked a little way with me.
      “Going into the show?”

Synonyms

Derived terms

Terms derived from show (noun)

Descendants

Translations

See also

References

  1. ^ Rossiter W[orthington] Raymond (1881), “Show”, in A Glossary of Mining and Metallurgical Terms. [], Easton, Pa.: [American] Institute [of Mining Engineers], [], →OCLC.
  2. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “show”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

Chinese show definition

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From English show.

Noun

show

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) Alternative form of (sou1, show)

Verb

show

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) to show; to display
  2. (Hong Kong Cantonese) to turn up
    no show [Cantonese]  ―  nou1 sou1 [Jyutping]  ―  no-show

Etymology 2

Verb

show

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, eye dialect) Alternative form of so (sou1, to respond; to pay attention to)

Danish show definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English show.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɕɔːw/, /ˈɕɔw/

Noun

show n (singular definite showet, plural indefinite shows or show)

  1. show (play, dance, or other entertainment)
  2. show (exhibition of items)
  3. show (broadcast program, especially a light entertainment program)

Declension

References

Dutch show definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English show.

Pronunciation

Noun

show m (plural shows, diminutive showtje n)

  1. A show (entertainment).

Derived terms

Descendants

  • ? Sranan Tongo: syow
    • Caribbean Javanese: so

Finnish show definition

Etymology

From English show.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʃou̯/, [ˈʃo̞u̯]
  • IPA(key): /ˈʃoː/, [ˈʃo̞ː]
  • IPA(key): /ˈsoː/, [ˈs̠o̞ː]

Noun

show

  1. show (entertainment)

Usage notes

In plural usually substituted with a synonym, as the word does not easily fit into any Finnish declension category.

Declension

Inflection of show (Kotus type 22/parfait, no gradation)
nominative show show’t
genitive show’n show’iden
show’itten
partitive show’ta show’ita
illative show’hun show’ihin
singular plural
nominative show show’t
accusative nom. show show’t
gen. show’n
genitive show’n show’iden
show’itten
partitive show’ta show’ita
inessive show’ssa show’issa
elative show’sta show’ista
illative show’hun show’ihin
adessive show’lla show’illa
ablative show’lta show’ilta
allative show’lle show’ille
essive show’na show’ina
translative show’ksi show’iksi
abessive show’tta show’itta
instructive show’in
comitative See the possessive forms below.
Possessive forms of show (type parfait)
first-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative show’ni show’ni
accusative nom. show’ni show’ni
gen. show’ni
genitive show’ni show’ideni
show’itteni
partitive show’tani show’itani
inessive show’ssani show’issani
elative show’stani show’istani
illative show’huni show’ihini
adessive show’llani show’illani
ablative show’ltani show’iltani
allative show’lleni show’illeni
essive show’nani show’inani
translative show’kseni show’ikseni
abessive show’ttani show’ittani
instructive
comitative show’ineni
second-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative show’si show’si
accusative nom. show’si show’si
gen. show’si
genitive show’si show’idesi
show’ittesi
partitive show’tasi show’itasi
inessive show’ssasi show’issasi
elative show’stasi show’istasi
illative show’husi show’ihisi
adessive show’llasi show’illasi
ablative show’ltasi show’iltasi
allative show’llesi show’illesi
essive show’nasi show’inasi
translative show’ksesi show’iksesi
abessive show’ttasi show’ittasi
instructive
comitative show’inesi
first-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative show’mme show’mme
accusative nom. show’mme show’mme
gen. show’mme
genitive show’mme show’idemme
show’ittemme
partitive show’tamme show’itamme
inessive show’ssamme show’issamme
elative show’stamme show’istamme
illative show’humme show’ihimme
adessive show’llamme show’illamme
ablative show’ltamme show’iltamme
allative show’llemme show’illemme
essive show’namme show’inamme
translative show’ksemme show’iksemme
abessive show’ttamme show’ittamme
instructive
comitative show’inemme
second-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative show’nne show’nne
accusative nom. show’nne show’nne
gen. show’nne
genitive show’nne show’idenne
show’ittenne
partitive show’tanne show’itanne
inessive show’ssanne show’issanne
elative show’stanne show’istanne
illative show’hunne show’ihinne
adessive show’llanne show’illanne
ablative show’ltanne show’iltanne
allative show’llenne show’illenne
essive show’nanne show’inanne
translative show’ksenne show’iksenne
abessive show’ttanne show’ittanne
instructive
comitative show’inenne
third-person possessor
singular plural
nominative show’nsa show’nsa
accusative nom. show’nsa show’nsa
gen. show’nsa
genitive show’nsa show’idensa
show’ittensa
partitive show’taan
show’tansa
show’itaan
show’itansa
inessive show’ssaan
show’ssansa
show’issaan
show’issansa
elative show’staan
show’stansa
show’istaan
show’istansa
illative show’hunsa show’ihinsa
adessive show’llaan
show’llansa
show’illaan
show’illansa
ablative show’ltaan
show’ltansa
show’iltaan
show’iltansa
allative show’lleen
show’llensa
show’illeen
show’illensa
essive show’naan
show’nansa
show’inaan
show’inansa
translative show’kseen
show’ksensa
show’ikseen
show’iksensa
abessive show’ttaan
show’ttansa
show’ittaan
show’ittansa
instructive
comitative show’ineen
show’inensa

Synonyms

Compounds

Further reading

French show definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English show.

Pronunciation

Noun

show m (plural shows)

  1. show (entertainment program)

Further reading

Hungarian show definition

Etymology

From English show. [1]

Pronunciation

Noun

show (plural show-k)

  1. show (entertainment, programme, production, performance)

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)
singular plural
nominative show show-k
accusative show-t show-kat
dative show-nak show-knak
instrumental show-val show-kkal
causal-final show-ért show-kért
translative show-vá show-kká
terminative show-ig show-kig
essive-formal show-ként show-kként
essive-modal
inessive show-ban show-kban
superessive show-n show-kon
adessive show-nál show-knál
illative show-ba show-kba
sublative show-ra show-kra
allative show-hoz show-khoz
elative show-ból show-kból
delative show-ról show-król
ablative show-tól show-któl
non-attributive
possessive - singular
show-é show-ké
non-attributive
possessive - plural
show-éi show-kéi
Possessive forms of show
possessor single possession multiple possessions
1st person sing. show-m show-im
2nd person sing. show-d show-id
3rd person sing. show-ja show-i
1st person plural show-nk show-ink
2nd person plural show-tok show-itok
3rd person plural show-juk show-ik

Derived terms

Compound words

Related terms

References

  1. ^ Tótfalusi, István. Idegenszó-tár: Idegen szavak értelmező és etimológiai szótára (’A Storehouse of Foreign Words: an explanatory and etymological dictionary of foreign words’). Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó, 2005. →ISBN

Norwegian Bokmål show definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English show.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃɔʋ/, /ʃɔʊ/
  • Rhymes: -ɔʋ, -ɔʊ

Noun

show n (definite singular showet, indefinite plural show, definite plural showa or showene)

  1. a show (play, concert, entertainment)

Derived terms

References

Norwegian Nynorsk show definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English show.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʂɔʋ/, /ʂɔu/
  • Rhymes: -ɔʋ, -ɔu

Noun

show n (definite singular showet, indefinite plural show, definite plural showa)

  1. a show (play, concert, entertainment)

Derived terms

References

Polish show definition

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English show, from Middle English schewen, schawen, scheawen, from Old English scēawian, from Proto-Germanic *skawwōną, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewh₁-.

Pronunciation

Noun

show m inan (indeclinable)

  1. show (exhibition)

Further reading

  • show in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
  • show in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese show definition

Alternative forms

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English show.

Pronunciation

 

Noun

show m (plural shows)

  1. show (a entertainment performance event)
    Synonyms: espetáculo, apresentação
    1. (especially) concert (musical presentation)
  2. (Brazil, colloquial) an act or performance that demonstrates high skill; spectacle; display; feat
    Synonym: espetáculo
    Aquela aula foi um show.
    That class was amazing.
  3. (colloquial, often used in dar um show) the action of crying or yelling out loud in order to protest or complain about something, often in the context of a discussion or argument
    Synonym: fazer uma cena

Derived terms

Adjective

show (invariable)

  1. (Brazil, slang) amazing; awesome
    Synonyms: espetacular, excelente, maravilhoso

Romanian show definition

Etymology

Borrowed from English show.

Noun

show n (plural show-uri)

  1. show

Declension

Spanish show definition

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English show.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʃou/ [ˈʃou̯], /ˈt͡ʃou/ [ˈt͡ʃou̯], /ˈsou/ [ˈsou̯]
  • Rhymes: -ou

Noun

show m (plural shows)

  1. show, spectacle
    Synonym: espetáculo
  2. (informal) a scene, i.e. an exhibition of passionate or strong feeling before others, creating embarrassment or disruption
    Synonym: escena

Usage notes

According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.

Derived terms

Further reading

Swedish show definition

Etymology

From English show.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɧɔ͡ʊ/, [ɧɔ͡ʊ], [ʂɔ͡ʊ]
  • IPA(key): /ɧɔv/, [ɧɔvː], [ʂɔvː]
  • IPA(key): /ɧoː/ (dated)

Noun

show c

  1. show; a play, dance, or other entertainment.

Declension

Declension of show 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative show showen shower showerna
Genitive shows showens showers showernas

References