Meaning & use
showdown
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Meanings
nouncountable
A final argument, fight, or meeting that decides who wins a long dispute.
Grammar: Countable; usually used with 'a' or 'the': a showdown between the two sides.
Patterns
- a showdown between someone and someone
- a showdown with someone
- a showdown over something
The two leaders finally had a showdown over the disputed border.
After months of tension, a showdown between the manager and the players seemed certain.
Union leaders are preparing for a showdown with the government next week.
nouncountablesport
A decisive game or match that settles which competitor is better.
Grammar: Countable; common in sports reporting, often with 'final': the final showdown.
Patterns
- a showdown between two teams
- the final showdown
- a showdown for the title
Saturday's showdown between the top two teams drew a huge crowd.
The champion won the final showdown in three sets.
Everyone expected a showdown for the gold medal.
Word forms
| plural | showdowns |
|---|
Common combinations
- a final showdown
- Fans waited all season for the final showdown.
- a showdown with someone
- The mayor is heading for a showdown with the city council.
- a showdown over something
- The showdown over pay lasted three days.
- face a showdown
- Both sides face a showdown if talks fail.
- a showdown between
- There was a tense showdown between the two rivals.
Synonyms and how they differ
- confrontation
- Confrontation is broader and can describe any hostile meeting, while showdown stresses that the conflict is final and settles something.
- clash
- Clash often suggests a sudden physical or angry fight; a showdown can also be a calm but decisive meeting.
- decider
- Decider is used mainly in sports for the game that settles a series; showdown is wider and more dramatic.
Opposites
Word family
- show down phrasal verb
- In poker, to lay your cards face up so everyone can see them.
Commonly confused: showdown or showdown?
showdown vs showdown
Do not confuse the noun 'showdown' with the phrasal verb 'show down', which is only about showing cards in poker.
Practice
The two countries are heading for a showdown ___ the island.
Choose one answer.
'A showdown over something' is the usual pattern for the issue being argued about. 'For' would suggest the island is a prize they both want, not the subject of the dispute, and 'in/onto' do not fit the pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “showdown”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.