show-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈshō-ˌȯf 

often attributive

1

: the act of showing off

2

: one that shows off : exhibitionist

show-offy

ˈshō-ˌȯ-fē 

adjective

show off

2 of 2

verb

showed off; shown off or showed off; showing off; shows off

transitive verb

: to display proudly

wanted to show our new car off

intransitive verb

: to seek to attract attention by conspicuous behavior

boys showing off for the girls

Synonyms of show-off

Verb

• horse around
• cut up
• fool around
• act up
• clown (around)
• monkey (around)

Examples of show-off in a Sentence

Verb

the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started

she just wants to show off her new jewelry

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But there’s value to the subtle, occasional mention of an appropriate insider name, a gesture that’s more like a secret handshake than the work of an oafish show-off. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2025

Luxury can sometimes be interpreted as someone, who is a show-off. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025

Verb

Since the scandal, Woods showed off her vocal chops by competing as Kangaroo on The Masked Singer season 3. —Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025

Other photos showed the kids opening their presents and showing off their Christmas gifts, which included a Barbie for María Lucía, 4, and a Bluey toy for Ilaria Catalina Irena, 2. —Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1750, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for show-off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

show-off

1 of 2 noun

ˈshō-ˌȯf

1

: the act of showing off

2

: a person who shows off

show off

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)shō-ˈȯf

1

: to display proudly

2

: to try to attract attention by conspicuous behavior