Meaning & use
demonstrating
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“demonstrating” is a form of “demonstrate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Making something clear by showing proof or evidence of it.
Grammar: -ing form of demonstrate, which takes an object or a that-clause: demonstrating that the method works.
Patterns
- demonstrating something
- demonstrating that something is true
The study is demonstrating that exercise improves memory.
She is demonstrating her skills by finishing the task early.
Demonstrating respect costs nothing.
verbtransitive
Showing someone how a thing works or how to do it by doing it in front of them.
Grammar: Takes an object and often a person: demonstrating a recipe to the class.
Patterns
- demonstrating something to someone
- demonstrating how to do something
The chef is demonstrating how to fold dumplings.
A salesman was demonstrating a new vacuum cleaner at the store.
The nurse is demonstrating the correct way to wash your hands.
verbintransitive
Taking part in a public gathering or march to show support for or anger at something.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by against or for: demonstrating against the plan.
Patterns
- demonstrating against something
- demonstrating for something
Hundreds of students are demonstrating against the fee increase.
Farmers were demonstrating outside parliament.
They spent the weekend demonstrating for better wages.
Word forms
| base form | demonstrate |
|---|---|
| third person singular | demonstrates |
| past tense | demonstrated |
| past participle | demonstrated |
Common combinations
- demonstrating skill
- He kept demonstrating skill beyond his years.
- demonstrating against
- They are demonstrating against the new law.
- demonstrating a product
- She is demonstrating a product at the fair.
- clearly demonstrating
- The results are clearly demonstrating a trend.
- demonstrating the need for
- The accident is demonstrating the need for better signs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- showing
- Showing is a more everyday and less formal word, and does not necessarily suggest careful proof or a teaching purpose.
- proving
- Proving suggests the evidence is conclusive, whereas demonstrating can simply make something visible.
- protesting
- Protesting is the closer synonym for the public-gathering sense, and always shows opposition, unlike demonstrating, which can show support.
- illustrating
- Illustrating means making a point clearer with an example or picture, a more limited kind of demonstrating.
Opposites
Word family
- demonstration noun
- a showing of proof or a public protest
- demonstrator noun
- a person who shows a product or takes part in a protest
- demonstrable adjective
- able to be shown clearly to be true
- demonstrative adjective
- openly showing feelings, or in grammar, pointing out a thing
Commonly confused: demonstrating or illustrating?
demonstrating vs illustrating
Illustrating adds pictures or examples to explain a point, while demonstrating shows by doing or by proof.
Practice
The engineer is ___ how the new pump works to a group of visitors.
Choose one answer.
Demonstrating how something works means showing it in action. Demanding, denoting and depriving do not take a how clause in this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “demonstrating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.