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Meaning & use

showoff

noun·Everydayinformaldisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˈʃəʊɒf/
US/ˈʃoʊɔːf/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. nouncountableinformaldisapproving

    A person who tries to impress others by loudly displaying their skills, money or achievements.

    Grammar: Refers to a person: he is such a showoff.

    Patterns

    • such a showoff
    • stop being a showoff

    My cousin is a total showoff and drives past our house just to be noticed.

    Don't be a showoff, just answer the question.

    The new student turned out to be a harmless showoff.

  2. nouncountableinformal

    An act or display that is meant to attract admiring attention.

    Grammar: Less common; usually the person sense is meant.

    Patterns

    • a bit of a showoff

    The loud entrance was a bit of a showoff.

    Her fancy dive was a pure showoff for the crowd.

    That speech was nothing but a showoff of his vocabulary.

Word forms

pluralshowoffs

Common combinations

a total showoff
Max is a total showoff when he plays the drums.
such a showoff
You are such a showoff, but that was impressive.
call someone a showoff
Her brother called her a showoff for finishing first.
a bit of a showoff
He is a bit of a showoff on the football field.
stop being a showoff
Stop being a showoff and let others try.

Synonyms and how they differ

braggart
A braggart mainly boasts in words, whereas a showoff also performs or displays things.
poser
A poser pretends to be something they are not, while a showoff really has the skill or item and over-displays it.
exhibitionist
Exhibitionist is stronger and more formal, and can suggest an urge to be seen.
boaster
Boaster is a plain word for someone who talks proudly and is less informal than showoff.

Opposites

modest person

Word family

show off verb
to display something to impress others
showy adjective
bright or striking to attract attention
show verb
to let someone see
showiness noun
the quality of being showy

Commonly confused: showoff or show off?

showoff vs show off

Show off, written as two words, is the verb, as in she likes to show off; showoff is the noun for the person.

Practice

Which sentence needs the noun showoff rather than the verb phrase show off?

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