show-off

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
: the act of showing off
2
: one that shows off : exhibitionist
show-offy 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

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
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.
Noun
In This Article Take It Easy With Greens Pick a Combo With Staying Power Rely On Dependable Winners The Three Rules of Container TLC These summer show-off container gardens will brighten up any porch or patio all season long—even in the Southern heat. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 May 2025 Otherwise, this is a visually stunning chassis that will satisfy patient-building component show-offs. PCMAG, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
Another photo showed off her cute but casual outfit and grabbing a coffee with a friend before class. Esther Kang, People.com, 13 May 2025 Google accidentally showed off its big Android design refresh last week, but now Material 3 Expressive is official. ArsTechnica, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for show-off

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1750, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of show-off was in 1750

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Show-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/show-off. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!