Advertisement

show (v.)

Old English sceawian "to look at, see, gaze, behold, observe; inspect, examine; look for, choose," from Proto-Germanic *skauwojan (source also of Old Saxon skauwon "to look at," Old Frisian skawia, Dutch schouwen, Old High German scouwon "to look at"), from Proto-Germanic root *skau- "behold, look at," from PIE *skou-, variant of root *keu- "to see, observe, perceive."

Causal meaning "let be seen; put in sight, make known" evolved c. 1200 for unknown reasons and is unique to English (German schauen still means "look at"). Spelling shew, popular 18c. and surviving into early 19c., represents obsolete pronunciation (rhymes with view). Horse racing sense is from 1903, perhaps from an earlier sense in card-playing.

show (n.)

c. 1300, "act of exhibiting to view," from show (v.). Sense of "appearance put on with intention to deceive" is recorded from 1520s. Meaning "display, spectacle" is first recorded 1560s; that of "ostentatious display" is from 1713 (showy is from 1712). Sense of "entertainment program on radio or TV" is first recorded 1932. Meaning "third place in a horse race" is from 1925, American English (see the verb).

Show of hands is attested from 1789; Phrase for show "for appearance's sake" is from c. 1700. Show business is attested from 1850; shortened form show biz used in Billboard magazine from 1942. Actor's creed the show must go on is attested from 1890. Show-stopper is from 1926; show trial is attested by 1937.

Entries related to show

Others are reading

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of show from WordNet
1
show (v.)
give an exhibition of to an interested audience;
She shows her dogs frequently
Synonyms: demo / exhibit / present / demonstrate
show (v.)
establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment;
The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture
Synonyms: prove / demonstrate / establish / shew
show (v.)
provide evidence for;
The blood test showed that he was the father
Synonyms: testify / bear witness / prove / evidence
show (v.)
make visible or noticeable;
She showed her talent for cooking
show (v.)
show in, or as in, a picture;
Synonyms: picture / depict / render
show (v.)
give expression to;
She showed her disappointment
Synonyms: express / evince
show (v.)
indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively;
I showed the customer the glove section
Synonyms: indicate / point / designate /
show (v.)
be or become visible or noticeable;
His good upbringing really shows
The dirty side will show
Synonyms: show up
show (v.)
indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments;
The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero
Synonyms: read / register / record
show (v.)
give evidence of, as of records;
The diary shows his distress that evening
show (v.)
take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums;
The usher showed us to our seats
Synonyms: usher
show (v.)
finish third or better in a horse or dog race;
he bet $2 on number six to show
2
show (n.)
the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining;
a remarkable show of skill
show (n.)
something intended to communicate a particular impression;
a good show of looking interested
a show of impatience
Synonyms: display
show (n.)
a social event involving a public performance or entertainment;
they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway
show (n.)
pretending that something is the case in order to make a good impression;
that ceremony is just for show
Synonyms: appearance
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near show

shoulder

shout

shove

shovel

shovelful

show

show up

show-and-tell

showboat

showcase

showdown

© 2001-2020 Douglas Harper