show up

verb

showed up; shown up or showed up; showing up; shows up

transitive verb

1

: to expose or discredit especially by revealing faults

showed them up as frauds

… it showed him up for the irrelevant and offensive person he really is …

—Owen Bennett

2

: to embarrass or cause to look bad especially by comparison

trying to show up the boss

The offensive line has been sub par with the defensive line showing them up for at least a few days.

—James Anderson

3

: reveal

showed up my ignorance

intransitive verb

1

a

: arrive, appear

showed up late for his own wedding

Hundreds of tourists showed up, wearing bright sweaters, even though it was warm.

—Tony Earley

b

: to become involved with others and make an active contribution

But what we have to remind ourselves, and each other, is that our democracy only works for us if we show up.

—America Ferrera

also : to provide help and support for someone

If you're in a position to defend and protect someone who is a victim of abuse, then do it … Show up for them.

—Sa'iyda Shabazz

2

: to be plainly evident

… [Woody Hayes] cared so much about people. That showed up in the way he did things in the community, the way he lent his name to charity events.

—Kyle Rowland

Synonyms

• appear
• come out
• materialize
• show
• turn up
• unfold

Examples of show up in a Sentence

normally, one doesn't see them, but the actress's wrinkles show up in the close-ups

the band showed up an hour late

Recent Examples on the Web

How Poinsettias Became a Christmas Flower When conquistador Hernan Cortes showed up in the early 16th Century, the story of these red flowers gets more complex. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2024

His team found that over time, brown anoles with longer legs had higher survival rates after the crested anoles showed up. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 30 Nov. 2024

DeVito, who repeatedly took big hits against the Bucs, showed up on the injury report Tuesday with a right forearm issue and was ultimately deemed unable to play Thursday, serving as only the emergency quarterback. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 Nov. 2024

Raven Wilburn, 43, and Joy Williams, 41, showed up to Castleton Square Mall at 6:30 a.m. ready to shop sales for themselves and those on their holiday shopping list. —Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

show up

verb

1

: to reveal the true nature of by uncovering faults : expose

were shown up for the fools they really are

2

: to be where one is expected to be : arrive

showed up on time

Legal Definition

showup

noun

show·​up

ˈshō-ˌəp

: a presentation of a criminal defendant or arrestee individually to a witness for identification compare lineup

Note: A showup identification may withstand a due process challenge when there is an emergency situation, when the presentation is accidental, or when otherwise the totality of the circumstances render it justifiable.