Show | Mean of show in English Dictionary

/ˈʃoʊ/

• Verb
• to cause or allow (something) to be seen
1. He showed her a picture. = He showed a picture to her.
2. You have to show your tickets/passports at the gate.
3. You're the only person that I've shown this letter to.
4. Give them a chance to show (you) what they can do.
• to give information that proves (something)
1. The study/research shows (that there is) a link between cigarettes and lung cancer.
2. The medication has been shown [=proven] to reduce high blood pressure.
3. They showed the theory to be faulty.
4. He seemed perfectly healthy before he had his heart attack. That just goes to show [=shows, proves] that appearances can be deceptive.
• to teach (someone) how to do or use something especially by letting that person see you do or use it
1. You will have to show me how to play the game.
2. He showed them a card trick.
3. Definitions tell you the meanings of words; examples show you how the words are used.

• to tell (someone) what or where something is by touching or pointing to it
1. Show me which video game you want to play.
2. She showed me where Laos was on the globe.
3. Show me where it hurts.
4. The guide showed us the church. [=pointed to the different parts of the church and told us about them]
• to lead (someone) to a place
1. He showed us to our seats.
2. Please show him in/out. [=lead him to the entrance/exit]
3. She showed them the way to the door.
• to have an image or picture of (someone or something)
1. The postcard shows a sunset on the beach.
2. The photograph shows her as a young woman.
• to give (information) in the form of numbers, pictures, etc.
1. The thermostat showed 68 degrees.
2. The pie chart shows that 20 percent of the money is spent on supplies.
3. 3:15 showed on the clock.
• to be able to be seen or noticed
1. The sun showed through the clouds.
2. The scar hardly shows.
3. Pull down your skirt. Your slip is showing. [=I can see your slip]
4. He's been working out a lot, and it shows.
5. The mountains showed up clearly against the sky.
• to cause or allow (something) to be easily seen or noticed
1. A light-colored carpet will show dirt.
• to cause or allow (a feeling, quality, or condition) to be seen or known
1. The expression on his face showed how disappointed he was.
2. She is not afraid of showing her true feelings.
3. Show your support by wearing one of these yellow ribbons.
4. When you say you dislike computers, you're really showing your age.
• to be able to be seen
1. His disappointment showed in his face.
• to give (mercy, respect, etc.) to someone
1. The judge showed no mercy.
2. Students must show respect for their teachers. = Students must show their teachers respect.
3. Please show some compassion.
• to cause (someone) to see your true ability, power, etc.
1. They think I'm too old to run the race, but I'll show them! [=I'll run the race and prove that I'm not too old to do it]
2. He thinks he can tell me what to do, but I'll show him who's boss.
• to make (a movie, television show, piece of art, etc.) available for the public to see
1. Some news programs have decided not to show [=air] the video.
2. She is showing her paintings at an art gallery.
3. The movie is now showing [=playing] in local theaters.
4. She has shown at the art gallery several times.
• to arrive or appear at a place
1. Many passengers failed to show.
2. Everyone showed up on time.
3. He didn't show up for work today.
• to enter (an animal) in a competition in which it is judged against other animals of the same kind
1. He breeds and shows poodles.
2. Two of our dogs will be showing in the national competition.
• to act as a guide for someone who is visiting a place
1. She showed us around (the city).
• to try to impress someone with your abilities or possessions
1. The boys were showing off in front of the girls.
2. Stop trying to show off.
• to cause (someone or something that you are proud of) to be seen or noticed by a lot of people
1. She showed her baby off at the office.
2. He drove around town, showing off his new car.
• to make (something) very noticeable
1. She wears tight clothes that show off her figure.
• to embarrass (someone)
1. He was deliberately trying to show up the boss.
• to show that you are willing and eager to do what is needed
1. I got in to work extra early to show willing and impress my boss.
• to appear in public and allow people to see you
1. I don't know how he can stand to show his face around here after what happened.
• to put down your playing cards on a table so that their values can be seen
• to tell other people what you are planning to do, want to do, or are able to do
1. The company wants to avoid showing its hand about its decision until next month.
• to move out from a hidden place so that you can be seen
1. The guard ordered him to show himself.
• to show that you are a particular kind of person, that you have a particular skill, etc.
1. They showed themselves to be cowards. [=they behaved in a cowardly way]
2. She has shown herself to be capable of running the company. [=has shown that she is capable of running the company]
• Noun
• a performance in a theater that usually includes singing and dancing
1. We saw a show last night. = We went to a show last night.
2. a Broadway/musical show
3. She was the star of the show.
• a public performance that is intended to entertain people
1. a one-woman comedy show
2. a puppet show
3. The band always puts on a good show.
4. The team put on a poor show [=played poorly] in the second half.
• a television or radio program
1. my favorite (TV) show
• an event at which things of the same kind are put on display for people to look at or buy
1. an agricultural show
2. fashion/auto/boat shows
3. a show of his early paintings
• an action, performance, etc., which clearly shows an ability, feeling, quality, etc.
1. a show of the country's great military strength
2. a remarkable show of generosity
3. All of the students signed the petition in a show of unity/solidarity with their classmate.
• an event at which something is done or shown to impress or entertain people
1. a spectacular show of fireworks
• an act of pretending to feel a particular way
1. He made a great show of friendship.
2. She put on a big show of sympathy, but she really didn't care about his troubles.
3. Her friendliness is all show. [=she does not truly have friendly feelings toward others]
• an event, business, etc., and all of the activities that are involved in its success
1. The new president tried to run the whole show [=be in charge of everything] himself.
2. A new manager is running the show.
• a competition at which animals of the same kind are judged against one another
1. a dog show
2. They have two show dogs. [=dogs that compete in dog shows]
• an occurrence in which people put a hand in the air to indicate that they want something, agree with something, etc.
1. Let me see a show of hands: how many people want a piece of cake?
• intended to be seen but not used or bought
1. We're not supposed to eat the fruit on the table. It's just for show. [=it's just being used as decoration]
• done in order to make others like or approve of you
1. He says he enjoys classical music, but it's only for show. [=he pretends to like classical music]
• to begin an activity or journey
1. Everyone ready? OK, let's get this show on the road!
• put somewhere for people to see
1. Her paintings are on show [=on display] at the art gallery.
2. The artifacts will be put on show in the museum.
3. His work goes on show tomorrow.