Meaning & use
showcase
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Meanings
nouncountable
An event or setting that displays the best qualities of someone or something to an audience.
Grammar: Takes an or the: a showcase for local talent.
Patterns
- a showcase for something
- a showcase of something
The festival is a showcase for young musicians.
The new stadium is a showcase of modern design.
The exhibition served as a showcase for local artists.
nouncountable
A glass case in which objects are displayed, as in a shop or museum.
Grammar: Literal sense: the ring is in the showcase.
Patterns
- in a showcase
- a glass showcase
The antique watches sat in a glass showcase.
She stopped to look into the shop's showcase.
A museum showcase held the ancient coins.
verbtransitive
To present someone or something in a way that highlights its best features.
Grammar: Takes an object: showcase the products.
Patterns
- showcase something
- showcase something to someone
The fair will showcase new technology.
The film showcases the actor's range.
They hope to showcase the region's food to visitors.
Word forms
| plural | showcases |
|---|---|
| third person singular | showcases |
| past tense | showcased |
| past participle | showcased |
| -ing form | showcasing |
Common combinations
- showcase talent
- The competition lets students showcase their talent.
- perfect showcase
- The match was a perfect showcase for the team's skill.
- glass showcase
- The diamonds lay in a glass showcase.
- showcase event
- The showcase event drew hundreds of buyers.
- showcase for
- The website is a showcase for her photography.
Synonyms and how they differ
- exhibit
- Exhibit is more neutral and simply means to put on display, whereas showcase stresses presenting at its best.
- display
- Display is a general word for putting something out to see, while showcase implies an attractive, selective presentation.
- feature
- Feature means to give something an important place, while showcase suggests proudly demonstrating it.
- highlight
- Highlight draws attention to one part, whereas showcase presents the whole in a favorable light.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: showcase or showroom?
showcase vs showroom
A showroom is a room where goods such as cars are displayed for sale, while a showcase is a display case or a chance to highlight talent.
Practice
The art fair will ______ the work of twenty emerging painters.
Choose one answer.
Showcase as a verb means to present something at its best. The other verbs would mean the opposite or do not make sense with 'work of painters'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “showcase”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.