show up

verb

showed up; shown up or showed up; showing up; shows up

Definition of show up

1 : to expose or discredit especially by revealing faults showed them up as frauds … it showed him up for the irrelevant and offensive person he really is …— Owen Bennett

2 : to embarrass or cause to look bad especially by comparison trying to show up the boss The offensive line has been sub par with the defensive line showing them up for at least a few days.— James Anderson

3 : reveal showed up my ignorance

intransitive verb

1a : arrive, appear showed up late for his own wedding Hundreds of tourists showed up, wearing bright sweaters, even though it was warm.— Tony Earley

b : to become involved with others and make an active contribution But what we have to remind ourselves, and each other, is that our democracy only works for us if we show up.— America Ferrera also : to provide help and support for someone If you're in a position to defend and protect someone who is a victim of abuse, then do it … Show up for them. — Sa'iyda Shabazz

2 : to be plainly evident … [Woody Hayes] cared so much about people. That showed up in the way he did things in the community, the way he lent his name to charity events.— Kyle Rowland

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Examples of show up in a Sentence

normally, one doesn't see them, but the actress's wrinkles show up in the close-ups the band showed up an hour late

Recent Examples on the Web His lucky break came when another actor at the theater, Harry Belafonte, did not show up for a rehearsal attended by a Broadway producer. — New York Times, 7 Jan. 2022 When Belafonte didn't show up one night, Poitier stepped in and caught the attention of a Broadway director who happened to be in attendance. — Hillel Italie, ajc, 7 Jan. 2022 First, at-home tests have been shown to have disappointing reliability in the early days of infection — especially before symptoms show up. — Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Jan. 2022 On another occasion, when a bartender didn't show up, a barback filled in. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 6 Jan. 2022 Randall ultimately has to deal with the disappointment Rebecca feared would plague his life when David doesn't show up. — Amanda Ostuni, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2022 Her process fosters a safe space for others to show up vulnerably and learn how to navigate the many twists and turns inclusive leaders face. — Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022 Most types of arthritis take at least months and probably years to show up on X-ray. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 4 Jan. 2022 Unlike a civil case, Foster said, if a tenant doesn't show up for their court hearing, warrants can be issued for their arrest. — Tyler Wann, Arkansas Online, 3 Jan. 2022

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

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show tune

show up

show willing

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Last Updated

12 Jan 2022

Cite this Entry

“Show up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/show%20up. Accessed 18 Jan. 2022.

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More Definitions for show up

showup

noun

show·up | \ ˈshō-ˌəp \

Legal Definition of showup

: a presentation of a criminal defendant or arrestee individually to a witness for identification — compare lineup

Note: A showup identification may withstand a due process challenge when there is an emergency situation, when the presentation is accidental, or when otherwise the totality of the circumstances render it justifiable.