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Meaning & use

did not show up

verb·Everyday

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UK/dɪd nɒt ʃəʊ ʌp/
US/dɪd nɑːt ʃoʊ ʌp/

“did not show up” is a form of “show up”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    To fail to arrive at a place or event where one was expected.

    Grammar: No object; often used in the negative to say someone was absent. The base form is 'show up'.

    Patterns

    • did not show up for something
    • did not show up at a place
    • did not show up to do something

    She did not show up for the meeting, so we started without her.

    The package did not show up until three days later.

    He promised to help, but he did not show up at all.

  2. verbintransitive

    To not become visible or noticeable.

    Grammar: Used for things that are expected to appear but remain unseen.

    Patterns

    • did not show up in a picture
    • did not show up on a test

    The stain did not show up in the photograph.

    The error did not show up in the final printout.

Word forms

base formshow up
third person singularshows up
past tenseshowed up
past participleshown up
-ing formshowing up

Common combinations

not show up for work
He did not show up for work two days in a row.
not show up at the party
She did not show up at the party, which was strange.
not show up on time
The bus did not show up on time this morning.
not show up in the results
The error did not show up in the final results.

Synonyms and how they differ

fail to appear
More formal and often used in official contexts; 'did not show up' is more casual and conversational.
not turn up
Common in British English; 'show up' is more common in American English.
be absent
Focuses on the state of being away rather than the act of not arriving; 'did not show up' emphasizes the failure to arrive.

Opposites

show upappeararrive

Word family

show up phrasal verb
Base form meaning to arrive or appear.
show verb
To make something visible or to present.
show-off noun
A person who tries to attract attention by displaying their abilities.

Commonly confused: did not show up or show off? did not show up or show up?

did not show up vs show off

Means to display something proudly, not to arrive. 'He showed off his new car' vs. 'He showed up late.'

did not show up vs show up

As a phrasal verb, it means to arrive; but 'show up' can also mean to embarrass someone (e.g., 'She showed him up by knowing more'). Context makes the meaning clear.

Practice

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