show
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ʃəʊ/
enpr: shō
ipa: /ʃoʊ/
ipa: [ʃoː]
ipa: [ʃow]
note: Indic
ipa: /ʃo(w)/
note: without the toe–tow merger
ipa: /ʃɔw/
ipa: /ʃəʊ/
note: Dublin
ipa: /ʃʌo̞/
rhymes: -əʊ
Forms: form: shows
form: shew
form: shewe
form: showe
Etymology: From Middle English schewe, from the verb (schewen).
Senses: examples: text: There were a thousand people at the show.
text: Then he commenced to talk, really talk. and inside of two flaps of a herring's fin he had me mesmerized, like Eben Holt's boy at the town hall show. He talked about the ills of humanity, and the glories of health and Nature and service and land knows what all.
ref: 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter IV, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
glosses: A play, dance, or other entertainment.
examples: text: art show;  dog show
glosses: An exhibition of items.
examples: text: radio show;  television show
text: They performed in the show.
text: I spotted my neighbour on the morning TV show.
text: Every day I do my morning show.
ref: 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
glosses: A broadcast program, especially a light entertainment program.
examples: text: Let's catch a show.
glosses: A movie.
examples: text: I'm taking the kids to the show on Tuesday.
text: E. C. McEnulty, who won the chop at the show on Thursday, cut through a foot lying block in 34 seconds
ref: 1924 October 6, The Examiner, Launceston, page 2, column 6:
glosses: An agricultural exhibition.
examples: text: Let's get on with the show.
text: Let's get this show on the road.
text: They went on an international road show to sell the shares to investors.
text: It was Apple's usual dog and pony show.
glosses: A project or presentation.
examples: text: show of force
glosses: A demonstration.
examples: text: I envy none their pageantry and show.
ref: 1725–1728, [Edward Young], “(please specify the page)”, in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion. In Seven Characteristical Satires, 4th edition, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson […], published 1741, →OCLC:
text: The dog sounds ferocious but it's all show.
glosses: Mere display or pomp with no substance. (Usually seen in the phrases "all show" and "for show".)
examples: text: So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.
ref: c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
glosses: Outward appearance; wileful or deceptive appearance.
examples: text: He played AA ball for years, but never made it to the show.
topics: ball-games
baseball
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: The major leagues.
topics: business
mining
glosses: A pale blue flame at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of firedamp.
glosses: Pretence.
glosses: Sign, token, or indication.
examples: text: Beware of the scribes,[…]which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 20:46-47:
text: He through the midst unmarked,
 In show plebeian angel militant
 Of lowest order, passed.
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
glosses: Semblance; likeness; appearance.
glosses: Plausibility.
topics: medicine
sciences
glosses: A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occurring a short time before labor.
examples: text: A subaltern, wearing a glengarry, came out of a house, playing with the nose of a shell. He walked a little way with me.
“Going into the show?”
ref: 1918, Denis Garstin, The Shilling Soldiers, London: Hodder and Stoughton, page 116:
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: A battle; local conflict.
Synonyms: sense: exhibition
word: exhibition
sense: exhibition
word: exposition
sense: demonstration
word: demonstration
sense: demonstration
word: illustration
sense: demonstration
word: proof
sense: broadcast program(me)
word: program(me)
sense: mere display with no substance
word: façade
sense: mere display with no substance
word: front
sense: mere display with no substance
word: superficiality
topics: baseball
ball-games
games
sports
hobbies
lifestyle
word: big leagues
Derived terms: sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: after the Lord Mayor's show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: air show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: all over the show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: all show and no go
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: auto show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: bad show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: bench show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: big show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: bloody show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: boat show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: bottle show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: call-in show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: car show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: chat show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: cinema show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: clip show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: clown show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: cooking show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: dog-and-pony show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: dog show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: donkey show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: drag show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: dumb-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: dumb show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: farm show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: fashion show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: flicker show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: floor show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: for show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: freak show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: galanty show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: gallantry show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: gallanty show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: game show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: gang show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: get the show on the road
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: get this show on the road
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: gong show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: good show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: go-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: gun show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: holy show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: horror show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: horror-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: horse show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: house show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: ice show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: I'll show you
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: jig show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: jolly good show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: keep the show on the road
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: kid show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: leg show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: light show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: magic lantern show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: make a show of oneself
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: medicine show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: minstrel show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: monkey show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: motor show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: no-call-no-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: no show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: no-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: no show sock
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: no-show sock
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: no show without Punch
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: object show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: on show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: opinion show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: order to show cause
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: panel show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: passing show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: peep show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: phone-in show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: picture show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: ping pong show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: poor show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: puppet-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: puppet show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: put up a show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: quilt show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: quiz show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: raree show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: reality show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: run the show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: run the whole show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: shit show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-and-tell
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show bag
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show barn
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show bench
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show bill
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: showbiz
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show business
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: showbusiness
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show box
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show bread
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show cause
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show cave
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show court
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show day
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show dog
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show end
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show flat
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show glass
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-glass
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show globe
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-goer
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: showground
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show home
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show jumper
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show jumping
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: showlike
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show notes
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-off
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show of force
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show of hands
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show of strength
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-out
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show ring
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-run
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show song
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-stealing
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-stone
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show stone
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show stopper
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show time
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show towel
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show trial
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show tune
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show-up
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show willing
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: show window
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: showy
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: side show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: slide-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: slide show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: smoke show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: stage show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: steal the show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: step show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: string show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: super-show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: tabloid talk show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: talent show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: talk show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: television show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: TV show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: the show must go on
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: trade show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: trunk show
sense: Terms derived from show (noun)
word: variety show
Related terms: showman
showpiece
show-stopper
show-stopping