for show

phrase

1
: intended to be seen but not used or bought
We're not supposed to eat the fruit on the table. It's just for show.
2
disapproving : done in order to gain the approval or favor of others
He says he enjoys classical music, but it's only for show.

Examples of for show in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These were walls built for show, a luxury good then, and now. Matt Seaton, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 His point wasn’t self-criticism for show. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026 But the costume wasn’t just for show. Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Mar. 2026 Tickets for show, which will take place in the round, can currently be purchased starting at $40. Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for for show

Cite this Entry

“For show.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20show. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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