showboat

noun show·boat \ ˈshō-ˌbōt \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Examples: showboat in a Sentence

Definition of showboat

1 : a river steamship containing a theater and carrying a troupe of actors to give plays at river communities

2 : one who tries to attract attention by conspicuous behavior

See showboat defined for English-language learners

See showboat defined for kids

Examples of showboat in a Sentence

The fans like him, but the other players think he's a showboat.

Recent Examples of showboat from the Web

Just like the living, ghosts can also be showboats.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "A Beginner’s Guide to Communicating With Spirits on the Other Side," 19 June 2018
Yes, Weegee wasn’t only a showboat but a man with an eye for black humor.

— sarah boxer, New York Times, "Weegee the Famous: The Master of Down-and-Dirty Street Photography," 1 June 2018
Built in 1908 by Greenwood businessman and mayor, Stage Marye, the 5,177-square-foot single-family home was designed to resemble the showboats that traversed the Yazoo and the mighty Mississippi.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "For $65,000, This Once-Grand Mississippi Mansion is Now The Ultimate Fixer Upper," 16 Apr. 2018
Congress, in both parties, is increasingly the province of showboats who compensate for their many deficiencies through loud talk, audacious claims and, always, partisan invective.

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "Our awful Congress," 11 Apr. 2018
His failed showboat dunk from early in the season was reason enough to get some dunking lessons.

— andrew joseph, USA TODAY, "Steph Curry roasted himself after Newton's TD dunk," 5 Nov. 2017
Created by Mark Burnett, the show began airing in 2004, revitalizing and popularizing Trump’s image as a tough, no-nonsense, affably pompous, and mercurial showboat businessman.

— willa paskin, Slate Magazine, "The New Celebrity Apprentice Will Make You Pine for a President Schwarzenegger," 3 Jan. 2017
Despite the game being stopped, Curry continued towards the basket to throw down a showboat dunk just for fun.

— andrew joseph, USA TODAY, "Curry tried to showboat and embarrassed himself," 26 Oct. 2017
Rickles, ever the showboat, used to roast De Niro on a daily basis on the set, which would always make the crew laugh.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Watch Don Rickles Roast Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese in His Final Project," 25 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'showboat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of showboat

1839

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

showboat

verb

Definition of showboat

showboated; showboating; showboats

intransitive verb

: to behave in a conspicuous or ostentatious manner : show off

—

showboater

noun

See showboat defined for English-language learners

Examples of showboat in a Sentence

She was showboating for the cameras when she tripped and fell.
the gymnast was showboating for the cameras when she lost her balance and fell

Recent Examples of showboat from the Web

Drew prefers ’70s funk to hip-hop, drives a retro van outfitted with an 8-track tape, and enjoys lecturing showboating youngsters about the fundamental unselfishness of the game, when played well.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Uncle Drew: A Solid Piece of Branded Content," 29 June 2018
Once there, apparently to maintain the suspense, the showboating raccoon began moving around the 17th floor, rather than climbing or descending farther.

— andrea park, Teen Vogue, "Raccoon Climbs 25 Stories to Reach Top of Minnesota Skyscraper," 13 June 2018
This showboating behavior is irresponsible, reckless, & potentially dangerous.

— Fox News, "Tennessee college senior defends posing for graduation picture with gun in her waistband," 10 Apr. 2018
Olmert describes Barak as a formalistic, showboating defense minister unwilling to take a firm yes or no position on launching a bombing even while claiming credit.

— noga tarnopolsky, latimes.com, "Israel's disclosure that it struck a Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007 ignites a debate over censorship and security," 22 Mar. 2018
Borussia Dortmund youngster Jadon Sancho has admitted to being reprimanded by Marcel Schmelzer and Vincent Kompany in the past for showboating in training.

— SI.com, "Dortmund Winger Jadon Sancho Admits to Being Told Off by Club Captains for Nutmegging Teammates," 20 Mar. 2018
Comedians Kinsey and Beatriz play their parts looser, like back-up singers free to showboat on the mic.

— amy nicholson, chicagotribune.com, "'Half Magic' review: Heather Graham casts a spell in her writing-directing debut," 22 Feb. 2018
He was also accused of showboating in the same match.

— SI.com, "PSG Keeper Kevin Trapp Defends 'Leader' Neymar From 'Arrogant' Claims," 11 Feb. 2018
Cedi Osman, bless his soul, tried to showboat on a breakaway dunk after a steal and bricked it.

— joe vardon, cleveland.com, "Cavaliers, younger and fresher, trounce Celtics 121-99 on Paul Pierce's jersey retirement day," 11 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of showboat

1937

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

showboat Synonyms

Synonyms

act up, clown (around), cut up, fool around, horse around, hotdog, monkey (around), show off, skylark;

Related Words

carry on, misbehave;

roughhouse;

caper, cavort, disport, frisk, frolic, gambol, lark, rollick, romp;

carouse, revel, roar, wassail;

SHOWBOAT Defined for English Language Learners

showboat

noun

Definition of showboat for English Language Learners

: a large boat that has a theater and a group of performers and that gives plays at towns and cities along a river
: a person (such as an athlete) who behaves or performs in a way that is meant to attract the attention of a lot of people