demonstrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make evident or establish by arguments or reasoning; prove.
to demonstrate a philosophical principle.
- Synonyms:
- corroborate, verify, confirm, show
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to describe, explain, or illustrate by examples, specimens, experiments, or the like.
to demonstrate the force of gravity by dropping an object.
-
to manifest or exhibit; show.
He demonstrated his courage by his actions in battle.
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to display openly or publicly, as feelings.
to demonstrate one's anger by slamming a door.
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to exhibit the operation or use of (a device, process, product, or the like), usually to a purchaser or prospect.
to demonstrate an automobile.
verb (used without object)
-
to make, give, or take part in, a demonstration.
The pickets required a license to demonstrate.
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Military. to attack or make a show of force to deceive an enemy.
verb
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(tr) to show, manifest, or prove, esp by reasoning, evidence, etc
it is easy to demonstrate the truth of this proposition
-
(tr) to evince; reveal the existence of
the scheme later demonstrated a fatal flaw
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(tr) to explain or illustrate by experiment, example, etc
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(tr) to display, operate, and explain the workings of (a machine, product, etc)
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(intr) to manifest support, protest, etc, by public parades or rallies
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(intr) to be employed as a demonstrator of machinery, etc
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(intr) military to make a show of force, esp in order to deceive one's enemy
Other Word Forms
- counterdemonstrate verb (used without object)
- demonstratedly adverb
- predemonstrate verb (used with object)
- redemonstrate verb
- subdemonstrate verb (used with object)
- undemonstrated adjective
- well-demonstrated adjective
Etymology
Origin of demonstrate
First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre “to show, point out,” equivalent to dē- de- + monstrāre “to show,” verbal derivative of monstrum “sign, portent”; monster ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A challenge for politicians of all persuasions between now and 7 May will be to demonstrate that the devolved institutions they hope to run do, and should, matter.
From BBC
Still, Iran has demonstrated an ability to retaliate.
From BBC
The activists had demonstrated Wednesday outside Fendi's Milan headquarters where its runway show took place.
From Barron's
Laboratory research has demonstrated that these compounds can form when icy dust grains containing methanol or blends of carbon dioxide and ammonia are exposed to ultraviolet light or gentle heating.
From Science Daily
An international team of researchers has now achieved that goal by demonstrating a quantized transverse drift of light.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
