1
as in to horse around
to engage in attention-getting playful or boisterous behavior
the athletes warmed up, happily showing off for the crowd before the match officially started
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to display
to present so as to invite notice or attention
she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hotshot
informal + disapproving
a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of show off
Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 3 June 2025
The pants have a supportive high-waist design, plus the tapered legs will show off sneakers, sandals, and more summer shoes.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 26 May 2025
Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
This one-of-a-kind cultural exchange program invites visitors to come into the homes of vetted, welcoming locals, who are likewise looking to meet travelers and show-off what their country has to offer in a unique way — and maybe just make a few new lifelong friendships along the way.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Verb
Without its own sandy beach to show off, it is often ignored by domestic visitors in favor of its seaside neighbors like Bournemouth or Portsmouth.
—Lottie Gross, AFAR Media, 3 June 2025
The pants have a supportive high-waist design, plus the tapered legs will show off sneakers, sandals, and more summer shoes.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
This was my chance to not be an actor, not have that stink of being an actor, that egotistical, show-off, controlling, making choices, being clever part of being an actor.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
This one-of-a-kind cultural exchange program invites visitors to come into the homes of vetted, welcoming locals, who are likewise looking to meet travelers and show-off what their country has to offer in a unique way — and maybe just make a few new lifelong friendships along the way.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for show off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for show off
Verb
-
Fayetteville Sad Palomino’s Will King releases a collection of home recordings In between horsing around with his longtime band Sad Palomino, Will King has been recording and trying to decide the best way to share songs, mostly written during winters from 2020 to 2025.—
Monica Hooper,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
-
The sport requires a combination of elegance and toughness as a team of eight girls wear long gowns, perfectly matching accessories and impeccable makeup while riding horses around an arena.—
Daniel Eduardo Hernandez,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The internal shelf is perfect for stashing everyday essentials while a few external shelves give you the option to display a few decorative items according to your style.—
Belle DuChene,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2025
-
Although each of their first-rounders this decade now has made the majors, to this point only Neto has displayed star potential.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
But hotshot crews are assigned to the toughest parts of a fireline, and sometimes have to hike the farthest, or do the most grueling labor, tackle kind of the most dangerous assignment.—
Meredith Wolf Schizer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
-
Aoki had turned fifty that season and was widely considered the most experienced hotshot in California—a state that claims the most skilled firefighters globally.—
Jordan Thomas
May 28,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
The mower can cut up to a full acre on a single charge.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2025
-
Old towels cut up into rags do a great job of removing this soft flux once the copper pipe is cool enough to touch.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
The release did not specify the date of the arrest, but Ada County Jail records show that Teague was booked Thursday evening.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
14 June 2025
-
Video from the weather event shows city streets transformed into waterways and passing city buses generating waves that broke against storefronts, while the rain persisted, relentless and torrential.—
Rob Schmitz,
NPR,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
-
As Molly and Guy start to fool around, things get hot and heavy, but Ernie has a job to do.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Indeed, Eugenio, whose large-scale figurative paintings have been exhibited across Europe, Latin America, and the US, exerts a fatherly influence across the campo.—
Alessandra Schade,
Vogue,
7 June 2025
-
Travis Decker had exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths, the court filings show.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
And for the most part, the wise guys weren't overly impressed with the Green Bay Packers’ offseason.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
-
The wise guys that summarily swooped him up were rewarded with 10 multiple-TD games and a QB8 finish on the year.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Show off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/show%20off. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share