Prove vs. Show — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Prove and Show
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Compare with Definitions
Prove
To establish the truth or validity of (something) by the presentation of argument or evidence
The novel proves that the essayist can write in more than one genre. The storm proved him to be wrong in his prediction.
Show
To cause or allow to be seen; display
Showed us his tattoo.
Prove
To demonstrate the reality of (something)
He proved his strength by doing 50 pushups.
Show
To display for sale, in exhibition, or in competition
Showed her most recent paintings.
Prove
To show (oneself) to be what is specified or to have a certain characteristic
Proved herself to be a formidable debater.
Proved herself to be worthy of the task.
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Show
To permit access to (a house, for example) when offering for sale or rent.
Prove
To establish by the required amount of evidence
Proved his case in court.
Show
To conduct; guide
Showed them to the table.
Prove
To establish the authenticity of (a will).
Show
To direct one's attention to; point out
Showed them the city's historical sites.
Prove
To demonstrate the validity of (a hypothesis or proposition).
Show
To make evident or reveal (an emotion or condition, for example)
Showed displeasure at his remark.
A carpet that shows wear.
Prove
To verify (the result of a calculation).
Show
To reveal (oneself) as in one's behavior or condition
The old boat showed itself to be seaworthy.
Prove
To subject (a gun, for instance) to a test.
Show
To indicate; register
The altimeter showed that the plane was descending.
Prove
(Printing) To make a sample impression of (type); proof.
Show
To demonstrate by reasoning or procedure
Showed that the hypothesis was wrong.
A film that showed how to tune a piano.
Prove
(Archaic) To find out or learn (something) through experience.
Show
To demonstrate to by reasoning or procedure; inform or prove to
Showed him how to fix the camera.
Showed her that it could really happen.
Prove
To be shown to be such; turn out
A theory that proved impractical in practice.
A schedule that proved to be too demanding.
Show
To grant; bestow
Showed no mercy to the traitors.
Prove
(transitive) To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for.
I will prove that my method is more effective than yours.
Show
To be or become visible or evident
Concern showed in his face.
Prove
(intransitive) To turn out; to manifest.
It proved to be a cold day.
Show
(Slang) To make an appearance; show up
Didn't show for her appointment.
Prove
(copulative) To turn out to be.
Have an exit strategy should your calculations prove incorrect.
Show
To be exhibited publicly
What's showing at the movie theater tonight?.
Prove
(transitive) To put to the test, to make trial of.
They took the experimental car to the proving-grounds.
The exception proves the rule.
Show
To give a performance or present an exhibition
Which artist is showing in the gallery?.
Prove
(transitive) To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify.
To prove a will
Show
(Sports) To finish third or better in a horserace or dog race.
Prove
To experience.
Show
A display; a manifestation
Made a show of strength.
Prove
To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of.
To prove a page
Show
A trace or indication, as of oil in a well.
Prove
(homeopathy) To determine by experiment which effects a substance causes when ingested.
Show
The discharge of bloody mucus from the vagina indicating the start of labor.
Prove
(baking) The process of dough proofing.
Show
The first discharge of blood in menstruation.
Prove
To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a standard measure.
Thou hast proved mine heart.
Show
A false appearance; a pretense
Only a show of kindness.
Prove
To evince, establish, or ascertain, as truth, reality, or fact, by argument, testimony, or other evidence.
They have inferred much from slender premises, and conjectured when they could not prove.
Show
A striking appearance or display; a spectacle.
Prove
To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will.
Show
A pompous or ostentatious display.
Prove
To gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by trial; to experience; to suffer.
Where she, captived long, great woes did prove.
Show
Display or outward appearance
This antique tea service is just for show. His smile was for show.
Prove
To test, evince, ascertain, or verify, as the correctness of any operation or result; thus, in subtraction, if the difference between two numbers, added to the lesser number, makes a sum equal to the greater, the correctness of the subtraction is proved.
Show
A public exhibition or entertainment.
Prove
To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page.
Show
An exposition for the display or demonstration of commercial products
An auto show.
Prove
To make trial; to essay.
Show
A usually competitive exhibition of domestic animals
Won first place at the cat show.
Prove
To be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves false.
So life a winter's morn may prove.
Show
A radio or television program.
Prove
To succeed; to turn out as expected.
Show
A movie.
Prove
Be shown or be found to be;
She proved to be right
The medicine turned out to save her life
She turned up HIV positive
Show
A theatrical troupe or company.
Prove
Establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment;
The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound
The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture
Show
(Informal) An affair or undertaking
Ran the whole show.
Prove
Provide evidence for;
The blood test showed that he was the father
Her behavior testified to her incompetence
Show
(Sports) Third place at the finish, as in a horserace.
Prove
Prove formally; demonstrate by a mathematical, formal proof
Show
(transitive) To display, to have somebody see (something).
The car's dull finish showed years of neglect.
All he had to show for four years of attendance at college was a framed piece of paper.
Prove
Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to;
This approach has been tried with good results
Test this recipe
Show
(transitive) To bestow; to confer.
Prove
Increase in volume;
The dough rose slowly in the warm room
Show
(transitive) To indicate (a fact) to be true; to demonstrate.
Prove
Cause to puff up with a leaven;
Unleavened bread
Show
(transitive) To guide or escort.
Could you please show him on his way. He has overstayed his welcome.
They showed us in.
Prove
Take a trial impression of
Show
(intransitive) To be visible; to be seen; to appear.
Your bald patch is starting to show.
At length, his gloom showed.
Prove
Obtain probate of;
Prove a will
Show
To put in an appearance; show up.
We waited for an hour, but they never showed.
Show
To have an enlarged belly and thus be recognizable as pregnant.
Show
To finish third, especially of horses or dogs.
In the third race: Aces Up won, paying eight dollars; Blarney Stone placed, paying three dollars; and Cinnamon showed, paying five dollars.
Show
To reveal one's hand of cards.
Show
(obsolete) To have a certain appearance, such as well or ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.
Show
(countable) A play, dance, or other entertainment.
There were a thousand people at the show.
Show
(countable) An exhibition of items.
Art show;
Dog show
Show
(countable) A broadcast program, especially a light entertainment program.
Radio show;
Television show
They performed in the show.
I spotted my neighbour on the morning TV show.
Show
(countable) A movie.
Let's catch a show.
Show
An agricultural show.
I'm taking the kids to the show on Tuesday.
Show
A project or presentation.
Let's get on with the show.
Let's get this show on the road.
They went on an international road show to sell the shares to investors.
It was Apple's usual dog and pony show.
Show
(countable) A demonstration.
Show of force
Show
(uncountable) Mere display or pomp with no substance. (Usually seen in the phrases "all show" and "for show".)
The dog sounds ferocious but it's all show.
Show
Outward appearance; wileful or deceptive appearance.
Show
The major leagues.
He played AA ball for years, but never made it to the show.
Show
A pale blue flame at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of firedamp.
Show
(archaic) Pretence.
Show
(archaic) Sign, token, or indication.
Show
(obsolete) Semblance; likeness; appearance.
Show
(obsolete) Plausibility.
Show
(medicine) A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occurring a short time before labor.
Show
A battle; local conflict.
Show
To exhibit or present to view; to place in sight; to display; - the thing exhibited being the object, and often with an indirect object denoting the person or thing seeing or beholding; as, to show a house; show your colors; shopkeepers show customers goods (show goods to customers).
Go thy way, shew thyself to the priest.
Nor want we skill or art from whence to raiseMagnificence; and what can heaven show more?
Show
To exhibit to the mental view; to tell; to disclose; to reveal; to make known; as, to show one's designs.
Shew them the way wherein they must walk.
If it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away.
Show
Specifically, to make known the way to (a person); hence, to direct; to guide; to asher; to conduct; as, to show a person into a parlor; to show one to the door.
Show
To make apparent or clear, as by evidence, testimony, or reasoning; to prove; to explain; also, to manifest; to evince; as, to show the truth of a statement; to show the causes of an event.
I 'll show my duty by my timely care.
Show
To bestow; to confer; to afford; as, to show favor.
Shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me.
Show
To exhibit or manifest one's self or itself; to appear; to look; to be in appearance; to seem.
Just such she shows before a rising storm.
All round a hedge upshoots, and showsAt distance like a little wood.
Show
To have a certain appearance, as well or ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.
My lord of York, it better showed with you.
Show
The act of showing, or bringing to view; exposure to sight; exhibition.
Show
That which os shown, or brought to view; that which is arranged to be seen; a spectacle; an exhibition; as, a traveling show; a cattle show.
As for triumphs, masks, feasts, and such shows.
Show
Proud or ostentatious display; parade; pomp.
I envy none their pageantry and show.
Show
Semblance; likeness; appearance.
He through the midst unmarked,In show plebeian angel militantOf lowest order, passed.
Show
False semblance; deceitful appearance; pretense.
Beware of the scribes, . . . which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers.
Show
A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occuring a short time before labor.
Show
A pale blue flame, at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of fire damp.
Show
A public exhibition of entertainment;
A remarkable show of skill
Show
Something intended to communicate a particular impression;
Made a display of strength
A show of impatience
A good show of looking interested
Show
A public exhibition or entertainment;
They wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway
Show
Pretending that something is the case in order to make a good impression;
They try to keep up appearances
That ceremony is just for show
Show
Show or demonstrate something to an interested audience;
She shows her dogs frequently
We will demo the new software in Washington
Show
Establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment;
The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound
The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture
Show
Provide evidence for;
The blood test showed that he was the father
Her behavior testified to her incompetence
Show
Make visible or noticeable;
She showed her talent for cooking
Show me your etchings, please
Show
Show in, or as in, a picture;
This scene depicts country life
The face of the child is rendered with much tenderness in this painting
Show
Give expression to;
She showed her disappointment
Show
Indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively;
I showed the customer the glove section
He pointed to the empty parking space
He indicated his opponents
Show
Make clear and visible;
The article revealed the policies of the government
Show
Be or become visible or noticeable;
His good upbringing really shows
The dirty side will show
Show
Indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments;
The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero
The gauge read `empty'
Show
Give evidence of, as of records;
The diary shows his distress that evening
Show
Show (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums;
The usher showed us to our seats
Show
Finish third or better in a horse or dog race;
He bet $2 on number six to show
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