1 [+ obj] : to cause or allow (something) to be seen
▪ He showed her a picture. = He showed a picture to her. ▪ You have to show your tickets/passports at the gate. ▪ You're the only person that I've shown this letter to. ▪ Give them a chance to show (you) what they can do. 2 [+ obj] : to give information that proves (something)
▪ The study/research shows (that there is) a link between cigarettes and lung cancer. ▪ The medication has been shown [=proven] to reduce high blood pressure. ▪ They showed the theory to be faulty. ▪ He seemed perfectly healthy before he had his heart attack. That just goes to show [=shows, proves] that appearances can be deceptive. 3 [+ obj] : to teach (someone) how to do or use something especially by letting that person see you do or use it
▪ You will have to show me how to play the game. ▪ He showed them a card trick. ▪ Definitions tell you the meanings of words; examples show you how the words are used. 4 [+ obj] : to tell (someone) what or where something is by touching or pointing to it
▪ Show me which video game you want to play. ▪ She showed me where Laos was on the globe. ▪ Show me where it hurts. ▪ The guide showed us the church. [=pointed to the different parts of the church and told us about them] 5 always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to lead (someone) to a place
▪ He showed us to our seats. ▪ Please show him in/out. [=lead him to the entrance/exit] ▪ She showed them the way to the door. 6 [+ obj] — used to describe what can be seen or noticed when you look at or examine something ▪ Her grades have shown some improvement. [=her grades have improved] ▪ The city's education system is showing signs of improvement. [=the city's education system seems to be improving] 7 [+ obj] : to have an image or picture of (someone or something)
▪ The postcard shows a sunset on the beach. ▪ The photograph shows her as a young woman. 8 : to give (information) in the form of numbers, pictures, etc. [+ obj] ▪ The thermostat showed 68 degrees. ▪ The pie chart shows that 20 percent of the money is spent on supplies. [no obj] ▪ 3:15 showed on the clock. 9 a [no obj] : to be able to be seen or noticed
▪ The sun showed through the clouds. ▪ The scar hardly shows. ▪ Pull down your skirt. Your slip is showing. [=I can see your slip] ▪ He's been working out a lot, and it shows. — sometimes + up ▪ The mountains showed up clearly against the sky.
b [+ obj] : to cause or allow (something) to be easily seen or noticed
▪ A light-colored carpet will show dirt. 10 a [+ obj] : to cause or allow (a feeling, quality, or condition) to be seen or known
▪ The expression on his face showed how disappointed he was. ▪ She is not afraid of showing her true feelings. ▪ Show your support by wearing one of these yellow ribbons. ▪ When you say you dislike computers, you're really showing your age.
b [no obj] of a feeling, quality, or condition : to be able to be seen
▪ His disappointment showed in his face. 11 [+ obj] : to give (mercy, respect, etc.) to someone
▪ The judge showed no mercy. ▪ Students must show respect for their teachers. = Students must show their teachers respect. ▪ Please show some compassion. 12 [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to see your true ability, power, etc.
▪ 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] ▪ He thinks he can tell me what to do, but I'll show him who's boss. 13 : to make (a movie, television show, piece of art, etc.) available for the public to see [+ obj] ▪ Some news programs have decided not to show [=air] the video. ▪ She is showing her paintings at an art gallery. [no obj] ▪ The movie is now showing [=playing] in local theaters. ▪ She has shown at the art gallery several times. 14 [no obj] chiefly US, informal : to arrive or appear at a place
▪ Many passengers failed to show. — usually + up ▪ Everyone showed up on time. ▪ He didn't show up for work today. — see also no-show 15 : to enter (an animal) in a competition in which it is judged against other animals of the same kind [+ obj] ▪ He breeds and shows poodles. [no obj] ▪ Two of our dogs will be showing in the national competition. 16 — used in phrases like have something/nothing to show for to say what someone has achieved or produced by doing something ▪ We worked all day but had nothing to show for it. [=we worked all day but did not achieve/accomplish anything] ▪ He invested millions of dollars into the company, but he has little to show for it. ▪ She has two Olympic gold medals to show for her years of training and practice. [=she won two Olympic gold medals as a result of her years of training and practice]