show
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
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 English caveat, and Sanskrit कवि (kaví, “seer, prophet, bard”).
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation): IPA(key): /ʃəʊ/
- (General American): enPR: shō, IPA(key): /ʃoʊ/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (UK) (file) - Rhymes: (Received Pronunciation) -əʊ, (General American) -oʊ
Verb edit
show (third-person singular simple present shows, present participle showing, simple past showed or (archaic) shew, past participle shown or (now rare, US) showed)
- (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.
- (transitive) To bestow; to confer.
- to show mercy; to show favour; (dialectal) show me the salt please
- (transitive) To indicate (a fact) to be true; to demonstrate.
- 2012 March-April, John T. Jost, “Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)?”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 162:
- He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record. With this biological framework in place, Corning endeavors to show that the capitalist system as currently practiced in the United States and elsewhere is manifestly unfair.
- 2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns
- A report this year in the Journal of Geophysical Research showed that the glacier has lost 60 percent of its mass.
- (transitive) To guide or escort.
- Could you please show him on his way. He has overstayed his welcome.
- They showed us in.
- (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[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
- '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.
- (intransitive, informal) To put in an appearance; show up.
- We waited for an hour, but they never showed.
- (intransitive, informal) To have an enlarged belly and thus be recognizable as pregnant.
- (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.
- (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.
- (obsolete) To have a certain appearance, such as well or ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.
- c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
- My lord of York, it better showed with you.
Usage notes edit
- 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 edit
infinitive | (to) show | ||
---|---|---|---|
present tense | past tense | ||
1st-person singular | show | showed | |
2nd-person singular | show, showest† | showed, showedst† | |
3rd-person singular | shows, showeth† | showed | |
plural | show | ||
subjunctive | show | showed | |
imperative | show | — | |
participles | showing | shown |
Synonyms edit
- (display): display, exhibit, flaunt, indicate, parade, point out, reveal, rub one's nose in, show off
- (indicate a fact to be true): demonstrate, prove
- (put in an appearance): arrive, show up
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
- foreshow
- go to show
- have something to show for something
- outshow
- show a clean pair of heels
- show a leg
- show a little ginger
- show and tell
- show ankle
- show around
- show away
- show colour
- shower
- show-er
- show forth
- show in
- show off
- show one's age
- show one's ass
- show one's butt
- show one's cards
- show one's claws
- show oneself
- show one's face
- show one's hand
- show one's stripes
- show one's stuff
- show one's teeth
- show one's true colors
- show one's true colours
- show one's true stripes
- show out
- show round
- show shapes
- show somebody the door
- show someone one's etchings
- show someone the door
- show someone the ropes
- show the cloven foot
- show the cloven hoof
- show the flag
- show the ropes
- show the way
- show the white feather
- show the white flag
- show-through
- show up
- show what one is made of
- show who's boss
- show who's the boss
Translations edit
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
See also edit
Noun edit
show (countable and uncountable, plural shows)
- (countable) A play, dance, or other entertainment.
- There were a thousand people at the show.
- 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter IV, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
- 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.
- (countable) An exhibition of items.
- art show; dog show
- (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.
- 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
- Every day I do my morning show.
Audio (US) (file)
- Every day I do my morning show.
- (countable) A movie.
- Let's catch a show.
- (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
- 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.
- (countable) A demonstration.
- show of force
- (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.
- Outward appearance; wileful or deceptive appearance.
- c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
- So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.
- (baseball, with "the") The major leagues.
- He played AA ball for years, but never made it to the show.
- (mining, obsolete) A pale blue flame at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of firedamp.[1]
- (archaic) Pretence.
- (archaic) Sign, token, or indication.
- (obsolete) Semblance; likeness; appearance.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 20:46-47:
- Beware of the scribes, […] which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers.
- 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
- He through the midst unmarked,
In show plebeian angel militant
Of lowest order, passed.
- (obsolete) Plausibility.
- (medicine) A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occurring a short time before labor.
- (military, slang) A battle; local conflict. [1892[2]]
Synonyms edit
- (exhibition): exhibition, exposition
- (demonstration): demonstration, illustration, proof
- (broadcast program(me)): program(me)
- (mere display with no substance): façade, front, superficiality
- (baseball): big leagues
Derived terms edit
- after the Lord Mayor's show
- air show
- all over the show
- all show and no go
- auto show
- bad show
- bench show
- big show
- bloody show
- boat show
- bottle show
- call-in show
- chat show
- cinema show
- clip show
- cooking show
- dog-and-pony show
- donkey show
- drag show
- dumb show
- dumb-show
- fashion show
- flicker show
- floor show
- for show
- freak show
- galanty show
- gallanty show
- game show
- gang show
- get the show on the road
- get this show on the road
- gong show
- good show
- go-show
- gun show
- holy show
- horror-show
- horror show
- house show
- ice show
- I'll show you
- jolly good show
- keep the show on the road
- kid show
- leg show
- light show
- magic lantern show
- make a show of oneself
- medicine show
- minstrel show
- monkey show
- motor show
- no-call-no-show
- no show
- no-show
- no show sock
- no show without Punch
- object show
- on show
- opinion show
- order to show cause
- panel show
- passing show
- peep show
- phone-in show
- picture show
- ping pong show
- poor show
- puppet-show
- puppet show
- put up a show
- quilt show
- quiz show
- raree show
- reality show
- run the show
- shit show
- show-and-tell
- show bag
- show barn
- show bench
- show bill
- showbiz, show business, showbusiness
- show box
- show bread
- show cause
- show cave
- show court
- show day
- show dog
- show end
- show flat
- show-glass
- show glass
- show globe
- show-goer
- showground
- show home
- show jumper
- show jumping
- showlike
- show notes
- show-off
- show of force
- show of hands
- show of strength
- show-out
- show ring
- show-run
- show song
- show-stealing
- show stone
- show-stone
- show stopper
- show towel
- show trial
- show tune
- show willing
- show window
- showy
- side show
- slide-show
- slide show
- smoke show
- stage show
- steal the show
- step show
- string show
- super-show
- tabloid talk show
- talent show
- talk show
- television show, TV show
- the show must go on
- trade show
- trunk show
- variety show
Descendants edit
- → Catalan: xou
- → Danish: show
- → Dutch: show
- → Finnish: show
- → German: Show
- → Hindi: शो (śo)
- → Hungarian: show
- → Japanese: ショー (shō)
- → Korean: 쇼 (syo)
- → Norwegian Bokmål: show
- → Norwegian Nynorsk: show
- → Portuguese: show
- → Russian: шоу (šou)
- → Spanish: show
- → Swedish: show
- → Turkish: şov
- → Urdu: شو (śo)
Translations edit
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See also edit
References edit
- ^ Rossiter W[orthington] Raymond (1881), “Show”, in A Glossary of Mining and Metallurgical Terms. […], Easton, Pa.: [American] Institute [of Mining Engineers], […], →OCLC.
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024), “show”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Anagrams edit
Chinese edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
Noun edit
show
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) Alternative form of 騷/骚 (sou1, “show”)
Verb edit
show
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) to show; to display
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) to turn up
Etymology 2 edit
Verb edit
show
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, eye dialect) Alternative form of so (sou1, “to respond; to pay attention to”)
Danish edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show n (singular definite showet, plural indefinite shows or show)
- show (play, dance, or other entertainment)
- show (exhibition of items)
- show (broadcast program, especially a light entertainment program)
Declension edit
References edit
- “show” in Den Danske Ordbog
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show m (plural shows, diminutive showtje n)
- A show (entertainment).
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
Finnish edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show
- show (entertainment)
Usage notes edit
In plural usually substituted with a synonym, as the word does not easily fit into any Finnish declension category.
Declension edit
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. |
Synonyms edit
Compounds edit
Further reading edit
- “show”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish][2] (online dictionary, continuously updated, in Finnish), Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-03
French edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show m (plural shows)
- show (entertainment program)
Further reading edit
- “show”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Hungarian edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show (plural show-k)
- show (entertainment, programme, production, performance)
Declension edit
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 edit
Related terms edit
References edit
- ^ 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 edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show n (definite singular showet, indefinite plural show, definite plural showa or showene)
- a show (play, concert, entertainment)
Derived terms edit
References edit
- “show” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Norwegian Nynorsk edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show n (definite singular showet, indefinite plural show, definite plural showa)
- a show (play, concert, entertainment)
Derived terms edit
References edit
- “show” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
Polish edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
Noun edit
show m inan (indeclinable)
- show (exhibition)
Further reading edit
Portuguese edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Unadapted borrowing from English show.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show m (plural shows)
- show (an entertainment performance event)
- Synonyms: espetáculo, apresentação
- (especially) concert (musical presentation)
- (Brazil, colloquial) an act or performance that demonstrates high skill; spectacle; display; feat
- Synonym: espetáculo
- Aquela aula foi um show.
- That class was amazing.
- (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 edit
Adjective edit
show (invariable)
- (Brazil, slang) amazing; awesome
- Synonyms: espetacular, excelente, maravilhoso
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Noun edit
show n (plural show-uri)
Declension edit
singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | |
nominative/accusative | (un) show | showul | (niște) show-uri | show-urile |
genitive/dative | (unui) show | showului | (unor) show-uri | show-urilor |
vocative | showule | show-urilor |
Spanish edit
Etymology edit
Unadapted borrowing from English show.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show m (plural shows)
- show, spectacle
- Synonym: espectáculo
- (informal) a scene, i.e. an exhibition of passionate or strong feeling before others, creating embarrassment or disruption
- Synonym: escena
Usage notes edit
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 edit
Further reading edit
- “show”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
Swedish edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
show c
- show; a play, dance, or other entertainment.
Declension edit
Declension of show | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | |||
Indefinite | Definite | Indefinite | Definite | |
Nominative | show | showen | shower | showerna |
Genitive | shows | showens | showers | showernas |