1
as in cutting up
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
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2
as in displaying
to present so as to invite notice or attention
she just wants to show off her new jewelry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of showing off
The fandom has been showing off their outfit prep on social media in anticipation of his set.
—
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Social media lit up on Wednesday when users noticed an Instagram reel posted by the Minnesota balloon company showing off its collaboration with the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
—Jackie Powell, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
Dolly Parton is showing off her latest Good American collection.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
In the years since Boogie Nights, Leo has made an unlikely hit out of The Man in the Iron Mask, then took the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, showing off his range and turning that surreal and often horrifying movie into another $100 million feather in his cap.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
This Friday the 13th, showing off your tats can get you some free lunch.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
On March 2—one day before debuting her new pageboy bob at Paris Fashion Week—Hadid made her grand entrance in a pair of straight-leg jeans that stop well above the ankle, showing off much of her beige crew sock and the entire tongue of her black loafers.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2026
Nadella wrote in an October X post showing off the abiltiy to toggle between Anthropic and OpenAI models in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
And right now, Echinus is showing off.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Social media lit up on Wednesday when users noticed an Instagram reel posted by the Minnesota balloon company showing off its collaboration with the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
—Jackie Powell, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
Dolly Parton is showing off her latest Good American collection.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
In the years since Boogie Nights, Leo has made an unlikely hit out of The Man in the Iron Mask, then took the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, showing off his range and turning that surreal and often horrifying movie into another $100 million feather in his cap.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
This Friday the 13th, showing off your tats can get you some free lunch.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
On March 2—one day before debuting her new pageboy bob at Paris Fashion Week—Hadid made her grand entrance in a pair of straight-leg jeans that stop well above the ankle, showing off much of her beige crew sock and the entire tongue of her black loafers.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2026
Nadella wrote in an October X post showing off the abiltiy to toggle between Anthropic and OpenAI models in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
And right now, Echinus is showing off.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for showing off
Verb
-
Scalping the lawn can assist doveweed's spread by cutting up pieces that root all over the lawn.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, as all of this is happening, Meredith is cutting up with the other ladies at the spa, without a care in the world.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The glasses' interface is simple, built around a multi-tab dashboard screen for displaying information and a pop-up menu that provides access to the active features.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
-
South Korean media reported the projectile, also likely a ballistic missile, disappeared from South Korean military radars after displaying an abnormal development in the initial launch stage.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bevel was horsing around with the Reverend James Orange and Andy Young in the courtyard under King's balcony, according to Orange.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
-
In April 2020, Iglesias shared a video of him horsing around with Lucy and Nicholas as the pair attempted to climb on his back for a ride.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moniak, meanwhile, continues flashing star power.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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In the past, even when Gobert has done his job to the best of anyone’s abilities, Jokic has often found answers in the form of knocking down outside jumpers or by flashing his feathery touch in the midrange.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The team wanted to keep Phillips and even engaged in conversations with Trey Hendrickson, showing the desire for a high-level edge rusher to join Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith in the top three.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Cops also felt hot on the trail after a driver shared footage showing Neukgu trotting alongside a mountain road.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The capsule’s toilet is already acting up.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The black flies are not the only troublesome creature acting up during the unseasonably warm weather.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Joseph Wright chased that question in the set of paintings that the National Gallery is currently exhibiting.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Neue Nationalgalerie plans to begin exhibiting art in the building before its official opening, as that institution can only display a portion of its collection at its current premises.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Showing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/showing%20off. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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