Cool MateDemonstrate vs Show
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Demonstrate
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Show
High-frequency chunkA1verb
| Demonstrate | Show | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdemənstreɪt/","/ˈdemənstreɪts/","/ˈdemənstreɪtɪd/","/ˈdemənstreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdemənstreɪt/","/ˈdemənstreɪts/","/ˈdemənstreɪtɪd/","/ˈdemənstreɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃəʊ/","/ʃəʊz/","/ʃəʊd/","/ʃəʊn/","/ˈʃəʊɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃəʊ/","/ʃəʊz/","/ʃəʊd/","/ʃəʊn/","/ˈʃəʊɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to show something clearly by giving proof or examples | to let someone see something |
| Example | The scientist will demonstrate the new experiment to the students. | Can you show me how to solve this math problem? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | amply, beyond doubt, clearly, to, amply, beyond doubt, clearly, to, amply, beyond doubt, clearly, to, peacefully, against, for | clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, hardly, begin to, let something, hardly, begin to, let something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something |
| Antonyms | conceal, hide, obscure | hide, conceal, cover |
| Common mistakes | Using 'demonstrate' with a subject instead of an object (e.g., 'demonstrate to the audience' instead of just 'demonstrate')., Confusing 'demonstrate' with 'illustrate' — 'illustrate' often refers to showing through drawings or visuals., Using 'demonstrate' in overly informal settings, where simpler terms may be more appropriate. | Confused with 'exhibit' in formal contexts, Using incorrectly as a noun instead of a verb, Confusing the past tense 'showed' with 'shown' |
| Usage notes | Use 'demonstrate' when presenting information, especially in educational or professional contexts. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'show' might suffice. | Use 'show' when presenting something to someone. Avoid in very formal contexts; instead, use 'demonstrate'. Common in everyday conversation. |
Frequently asked questions: Demonstrate vs Show
What's the difference between Demonstrate and Show?
Demonstrate: to show something clearly by giving proof or examples Show: to let someone see something
Are Demonstrate and Show the same CEFR level?
Demonstrate: B2, Show: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Demonstrate and Show interchangeably?
Not always. Demonstrate and Show are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.