EN

Synonyms for show

  • verb
  • noun

Most common

prove demonstrate exhibit display express evince evidence record

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Display — to display, convey or exhibit; to have something available for others to see; to direct attention to…

prove, demonstrate, exhibit, display, indicate, reveal, point out, expose, parade, mark, tell, unveil, bring out, make, explain, bring to light, produce, make known, represent, offer, bring forth, hang

2. Express

express, evince, direct, manifest, signify, breathe

3. Evidence

evidence, bear witness, testify, attest, bear rare

4. Record

record, read, register

Other

present, depict, point, appear, picture, scene, demo, usher, seem, arrive, inform, guide

Noun

1. Exhibition — an agricultural exhibition

exhibition, spectacle, exposition, pageant, representation, manifestation

2. Demonstration — A demonstration

demonstration, proof, illustration

3. Front — mere display or pomp with no substance. (Usually seen in the phrases “all show” and “for show”.)

front informal, facade

Other

appearance, series, show-off, program US, programme UK, ostentation, turn-up, color US, colour UK, mask, simulation, seeming, pretense US, pretence UK, look dated

Antonyms

hide, disprove, conceal

All antonyms of show →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To display, convey or exhibit; to have something available for others to see; to direct attention to something. To indicate; to convey facts that lead to a conclusion.

    Our schedule is showing appointments all day.

  2. v. 2

    To display, convey or exhibit; to have something available for others to see; to direct attention to something.

    The king showed great wisdom in his decisions.

  3. n. 1

    An agricultural exhibition.

    I'm taking the kids to the show on Tuesday.

  4. n. 2

    A demonstration.

Related words

Word family
shower show-off showcase showdown showpiece show-stopper
Phrases
show-off shit show moving-picture show picture show clown show show up gong show show window

Forms

Plural
shows → exhibitions, spectacles, expositions, pageants…
Past participle
shown
e.g. shown → proved, demonstrated, exhibited, displayed…

Choose the right word

Show, Display or Ostentation?

There may be great display or show with little substance; ostentation suggests something substantial to be shown.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • prove Further study will prove that the theory is right.
  • display The author doesn't display much talent in his book.
  • demonstrate He went on to demonstrate how to use the machine.
  • exhibit Tom started to exhibit his supernatural abilities.
  • picture It is the most artistic picture I have ever taken.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
showsteady
provesteady
displayrising
demonstraterising
exhibitsteady
evincesteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
make1, look1, tell1, read1, seem1, mark1, bear1, hang1, mask1, demo2
5 letters
point1, front1, offer2, scene1, color2, prove1, guide1, proof1, usher2
6 letters
series2, record2, direct2, appear2, colour2, reveal2, arrive2, parade2, inform2, expose2, depict2, facade2, unveil2, attest2
7 letters
program2, present2, picture2, explain2, produce2, express2, display2, breathe1, exhibit3, testify3, pageant2, seeming2, signify3
8 letters
evidence3, register3, indicate3, manifest3, pretense2, pretence
9 letters
represent3, programme2, spectacle3
10 letters
appearance3, exhibition4, simulation4, exposition4
11 letters
demonstrate3, ostentation4
12 letters
illustration4
13 letters
demonstration4, manifestation5
14 letters
representation5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (demo2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

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