show-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈshō-ˌȯf 

often attributive

1

: the act of showing off

2

: one that shows off : exhibitionist

show-offy

ˈshō-ˌȯ-fē 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• act up
• clown (around)
• cut up
• fool around
• horse around
• hotdog
• monkey (around)
• showboat
• skylark

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

Noun

Feast On Local Delights In Fort-de-France, welcoming local food shacks and easy-going eateries reign, offering simple but delicious and affordable eats that show-off the region’s best recipes. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Serious show-offs may be dazzled by the Shift in vertical orientation, but anyone in the habit of changing out their hardware on a regular basis, or who partakes in extreme overclocking, will appreciate the workbench mode. —PCMAG, 11 Jan. 2025

Verb

At camp, mom Paola showed off her ring with likenesses of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on it. —Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2025

Dreame showed off a small toolbox that stored two brushes — a sponge for wet messes and a bristle brush. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1750, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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