show (shows plural & 3rd person present) (showing present participle) (showed past tense) (shown past participle )
1 verb If something showsthat a state of affairs exists, it gives information that proves it or makes it clear to people.
Research shows that a high-fibre diet may protect you from bowel cancer... V that
These figures show an increase of over one million in unemployment... V n
It was only later that the drug was shown to be addictive... be V-ed to-inf
You'll be given regular blood tests to show whether you have been infected. V wh
2 verb If a picture, chart, film, or piece of writing shows something, it represents it or gives information about it.
Figure 4.1 shows the respiratory system... V n
The cushions, shown left, measure 20 x 12 inches and cost $39.95... V-ed
Much of the film shows the painter simply going about his task... V n -ing
Our photograph shows how the plants will turn out. V wh
3 verb If you show someone something, you give it to them, take them to it, or point to it, so that they can see it or know what you are referring to.
Cut out this article and show it to your bank manager... V n to n
He showed me the flat he shares with Esther... V n n
I showed them where the gun was... V n wh
4 verb If you show someone to a room or seat, you lead them there.
Let me show you to my study... V n prep/adv
I'll show you the way. V n n
5 verb If you show someone how to do something, you do it yourself so that they can watch you and learn how to do it.
Claire showed us how to make a chocolate roulade... V n wh
Dr. Reichert has shown us a new way to look at those behavior problems. V n n
6 verb If something shows or if you show it, it is visible or noticeable.
His beard was just beginning to show signs of grey... V n
Faint glimmers of daylight were showing through the treetops... V
7 verb If you show a particular attitude, quality, or feeling, or if it shows, you behave in a way that makes this attitude, quality, or feeling clear to other people.
She showed no interest in her children... V n
Ferguson was unhappy and it showed... V
You show me respect... V n n
Mr Clarke has shown himself to be resolutely opposed to compromise... V n to-inf
The baby was tugging at his coat to show that he wanted to be picked up. V that
8 verb If something shows a quality or characteristic or if that quality or characteristic showsitself, it can be noticed or observed.
The story shows a strong narrative gift and a vivid eye for detail... V n
How else did his hostility to women show itself? V pron-refl
9 n-count Ashowof a feeling or quality is an attempt by someone to make it clear that they have that feeling or quality.
usu a N of n
Miners gathered in the centre of Bucharest in a show of support for the government...
10 n-uncount If you say that something is forshow, you mean that it has no real purpose and is done just to give a good impression.
The change in government is more for show than for real...
11 verb If a company shows a profit or a loss, its accounts indicate that it has made a profit or a loss.
It is the only one of the three companies expected to show a profit for the quarter... V n
12 verb If a person you are expecting to meet does not show, they do not arrive at the place where you expect to meet them.
(mainly AM)
(=turn up)
There was always a chance he wouldn't show. V
Show up means the same as show., phrasal verb
We waited until five o'clock, but he did not show up... V P
13 n-count A television or radio show is a programme on television or radio.
oft supp N
(=programme)
I had my own TV show..., This is the show in which Loyd Grossman visits the houses of the famous., ...a popular talk show on a Cuban radio station...
14 n-count A show in a theatre is an entertainment or concert, especially one that includes different items such as music, dancing, and comedy.
How about going shopping and seeing a show in London?...
15 verb If someone shows a film or television programme, it is broadcast or appears on television or in the cinema.
The BBC World Service Television news showed the same film clip... V n
American films are showing at Moscow's cinemas. V
showing (showings plural) n-count
I gave him a private showing of the film.
16 n-count A show is a public exhibition of things, such as works of art, fashionable clothes, or things that have been entered in a competition.
also on N
The venue for the show is Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre Hall..., Two complementary exhibitions are on show at the Africa Centre...
17 verb To show things such as works of art means to put them in an exhibition where they can be seen by the public.
50 dealers will show oils, watercolours, drawings and prints from 1900 to 1992. V n
18 adj A show home, house, or flat is one of a group of new homes. The building company decorates it and puts furniture in it, and people who want to buy one of the homes come and look round it.
ADJ n
19 If a question is decided by a show of hands, people vote on it by raising their hands to indicate whether they vote yes or no.
show of hands phrase
Parliamentary leaders agreed to take all such decisions by a show of hands..., Russell then asked for a show of hands concerning each of the targets.
20 If you have something to show for your efforts, you have achieved something as a result of what you have done.
have something to show for sth phrase have inflects, PHR n
I'm nearly 31 and it's about time I had something to show for my time in my job...
21 You can say `I'll show you' to threaten or warn someone that you are going to make them admit that they are wrong.
I'll show you phrase
She shook her fist. `I'll show you,' she said...
22 If you say it just goes to show or it just showsthat something is the case, you mean that what you have just said or experienced demonstrates that it is the case.
it just goes to show phrase PHR that, PHR n
This just goes to show that getting good grades in school doesn't mean you're clever...
23 If you say that someone steals the show, you mean that they get a lot of attention or praise because they perform better than anyone else in a show or other event.
steal the show phrase V inflects
Brad Pitt steals the show as the young man doomed by his zest for life.
24
→
to show someone the door
→
door
→
to show your face
→
face show around phrasal verb
in BRIT, also use show round If you show someone around or show them round, you go with them to show them all the interesting, useful, or important features of a place when they first visit it.
Would you show me around?... V n P
Spear showed him around the flat. V n P n show off
1 phrasal verb If you say that someone isshowing off, you are criticizing them for trying to impress people by showing in a very obvious way what they can do or what they own., (disapproval)
All right, there's no need to show off... V P
2 phrasal verb If you show off something that you have, you show it to a lot of people or make it obvious that you have it, because you are proud of it.
Naomi was showing off her engagement ring... V P n (not pron)
He actually enjoys his new hair-style and has decided to start showing it off. V n P
1 phrasal verb If something shows up or if something shows it up, it can be clearly seen or noticed.
You may have some strange disease that may not show up for 10 or 15 years... V P
...a telescope so powerful that it can show up galaxies billions of light years away... V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If someone or something shows you up, they make you feel embarrassed or ashamed of them.
He wanted to teach her a lesson for showing him up in front of Leonov... V n P
chat show (chat shows plural )A chat show is a television or radio show in which people talk in a friendly, informal way about different topics.
(BRIT) n-count
in AM, use talk show
floor show (floor shows plural ), floorshow A floor show is a series of performances by dancers, singers, or comedians at a night club. n-count
game show (game shows plural )Game shows are television programmes on which people play games in order to win prizes. n-count
Being a good game-show host means getting to know your contestants.
horse show (horse shows plural )A horse show is a sporting event in which people riding horses compete in order to demonstrate their skill and control. n-count
picture show (picture shows plural )A picture show is a film or cinema.
(AM)
OLD-FASHIONED n-count
Punch and Judy show (Punch and Judy shows plural )A Punch and Judy show is a puppet show for children, often performed at fairs or at the seaside. Punch and Judy, the two main characters, are always fighting. n-count
show business
Show business is the entertainment industry of film, theatre, and television. n-uncount
He started his career in show business by playing the saxophone and singing.
show jumper (show jumpers plural )A show jumper is a person who takes part in the sport of show jumping. n-count
I loved horses as a child and was a junior show jumper.
show jumping , showjumping
Show jumping is a sport in which horses are ridden in competitions to demonstrate their skill in jumping over fences and walls. n-uncount
show-off (show-offs plural ), showoff If you say that someone is a show-off, you are criticizing them for trying to impress people by showing in a very obvious way what they can do or what they own.
INFORMAL n-count
(disapproval)
show-stopping , showstopping
A show-stopping performance or product is very impressive.
INFORMAL adj ADJ n (approval)
show trial (show trials plural )People describe a trial as a show trial if they believe that the trial is unfair and is held for political reasons rather than in order to find out the truth. n-count
(disapproval)
...the show trials of political dissidents.
talent show (talent shows plural )A talent show, talent competition, or talent contest is a show where ordinary people perform an act on stage, usually in order to try to win a prize for the best performance. n-count
talk show (talk shows plural ), talk-show A talk show is a television or radio show in which famous people talk to each other in an informal way and are asked questions about different topics. n-count
(=chat show)
