Verb + Noun A1 — Beginner /ʃəʊ/

Show — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

To make something visible or to demonstrate — one of the most essential verbs in English.

Quick Definition

Show (verb) means to make something visible, to demonstrate, or to guide someone to a place. As a noun, show means a performance, exhibition, or TV/radio programme.

What Does Show Mean?

Show comes from Old English scēawian (to look at, inspect). As a verb it covers several related ideas: making something visible ("show your passport"), demonstrating ("show me how"), guiding ("I'll show you to your room"), and indicating evidence ("the results show that"). All involve making something apparent to another person.

As a noun, show has a rich variety of uses: a TV show, a fashion show, a show of hands, a horse show, or "putting on a show" (pretending). The phrase show must go on is a famous expression meaning that a performance or activity must continue regardless of difficulties.

Key collocations include: show interest, show respect, show promise, show off, show up, on show (displayed), and show of strength. These are all essential vocabulary for B1 and above learners.

Word in Use

SentenceUsage note
Can you show me how to use this app?show = demonstrate a skill
The graph shows a steady increase in visitors.show = indicate, make clear
We watched a comedy show after dinner.show (noun) = TV programme

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She showed me her new car. (past participle error when using perfect)

She has shown me her new car. (past participle = shown)

He explained me the way. (wrong verb — use show, not explain, for giving directions)

He showed me the way to the station.

Related Words

explain appear seem display reveal present

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Wordsearch Quiz

Frequently Asked Questions about “show”

What does show mean in English?
Show has two main uses. As a verb it means to make something visible or to demonstrate: 'Can you show me how to do this?' As a noun it means a performance or programme: 'I watched a cooking show.' The core idea in both uses is making something visible or presenting it to others.
How do you use show as a verb?
Show as a verb is often followed by a direct object and an indirect object: 'She showed me her photos.' It can also mean to demonstrate: 'The chart shows that sales increased.' Common patterns: show someone something, show how to, show that. The past tense is showed; the past participle is shown (British) or showed (American).
What is the difference between show and demonstrate?
Demonstrate is more formal and implies a systematic explanation, often with a physical action: 'The teacher demonstrated the experiment.' Show is broader and more versatile — it can be informal ('show me your homework') or neutral ('the data shows a trend'). In everyday speech, show is far more common.
What is the CEFR level of show?
Show is an A1 (Beginner) word — one of the most fundamental verbs in English. It appears in the earliest coursebooks and is required for basic communication. Native English speakers use it dozens of times a day, making it an essential word to learn and master first.
What are synonyms for show?
As a verb, synonyms include: display (more formal), present (formal, e.g. present a report), demonstrate (systematic explanation), reveal (uncover something hidden), exhibit (display publicly), and indicate (point to evidence). As a noun: performance, programme, spectacle, display, and exhibition.
How do you pronounce show?
Show is pronounced /ʃəʊ/ in British English and /ʃoʊ/ in American English. It is a single syllable. The 'sh' sound is like in 'she' or 'ship', and the vowel is the long 'oh' sound. It rhymes with go, know, and flow. Do not pronounce it as /ʃaʊ/ — that is a different vowel sound.
What are the main forms of show?
Present: show/shows. Past simple: showed. Past participle: shown (standard) or showed (American). Present participle: showing. Examples: 'She shows great patience', 'He showed me the way', 'The results have shown a clear pattern', 'We are showing the film tonight.'
What does show off mean?
'Show off' is a phrasal verb meaning to display your skills or possessions in order to impress others, often in an annoying way: 'He was always showing off his new car.' As a noun, 'a show-off' means a person who does this. It is informal and slightly negative.
What does show up mean?
'Show up' has two meanings: (1) to arrive or appear — 'She finally showed up at 9 pm'; and (2) to make someone look bad or incompetent by comparison — 'He showed me up in front of the whole team.' The first meaning is very common in everyday informal English.
How can I practise the word show on LexFizz?
Use LexFizz's Flash Cards to practise show and related high-frequency verbs. The Vocabulary Quiz presents show in sentence context so you can identify its meaning and usage. The Wordsearch reinforces the spelling. Because show is A1, mastering it early builds a strong foundation for all further vocabulary learning.