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Show vs Present - What's the difference?

show | present |

Present is a synonym of show.



In transitive terms the difference between show and present

is that show is to guide or escort while present is to hand over (a bill etc.) to be paid.

In obsolete terms the difference between show and present

is that show is semblance; likeness; appearance while present is favorably attentive; propitious.

As an adjective present is

relating to now, for the time being; current.

show

English

Alternative forms

* shew (archaic)

Verb

  • To display, to have somebody see (something).
  • * , chapter=22
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part. Thus outraged, she showed herself to be a bold as well as a furious virago. Next day she found her way to their lodgings and tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head.}}
  • To bestow; to confer.
  • to show''' mercy; to '''show favour
  • To indicate (a fact) to be true; to demonstrate.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
  • , author=John T. Jost, volume=100, issue=2, page=162, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)? , passage=He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record. With this biological framework in place, Corning endeavors to show that the capitalist system as currently practiced in the United States and elsewhere is manifestly unfair.}}
  • To guide or escort.
  • To be visible, to be seen.
  • * (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • Just such she shows before a rising storm.
  • * (1809-1892)
  • All round a hedge upshoots, and shows / At distance like a little wood.
  • *
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage='Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed .}}
  • (informal) To put in an appearance; show up.
  • (informal) To have an enlarged belly and thus be recognizable as pregnant.
  • (racing) To finish third, especially of horses or dogs.
  • (obsolete) To have a certain appearance, such as well or ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • My lord of York, it better showed with you.

    Usage notes

    In the past, shew'' was used as a past tense form and ''shewed as a past participle of this verb; both forms are now archaic.

    Synonyms

    * (display) display, indicate, point out, reveal, exhibit * (indicate a fact to be true) demonstrate, prove * (put in an appearance) arrive, show up

    Antonyms

    * (display) conceal, cover up, hide * (indicate a fact to be true) disprove, refute

    Derived terms

    * show a clean pair of heels * show ankle * * show off * show one's true colors * show one's true stripes * show somebody the door * show up

    See also

    * showcase * showdown

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (countable) A play, dance, or other entertainment.
  • * , chapter=4
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Then he commenced to talk, really talk. and inside of two flaps of a herring's fin he had me mesmerized, like Eben Holt's boy at the town hall show . He talked about the ills of humanity, and the glories of health and Nature and service and land knows what all.}}
  • (countable) An exhibition of items.
  • (countable) A demonstration.
  • (countable) A broadcast program/programme.
  • (countable) A movie.
  • (uncountable) Mere display or pomp with no substance.
  • * Young
  • I envy none their pageantry and 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 .
  • The major leagues.
  • (mining, obsolete) A pale blue flame at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of firedamp.
  • (Raymond)
  • (obsolete) Semblance; likeness; appearance.
  • * Bible, Luke xx. 46. 47
  • Beware of the scribes,which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers.
  • * (John Milton)
  • He through the midst unmarked, / In show plebeian angel militant / Of lowest order, passed.
  • (medicine) A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occurring a short time before labor.
  • Synonyms

    * (exhibition) exhibition, exposition * (demonstration) demonstration, illustration, proof * program(me) * (mere display with no substance) , front, superficiality * (baseball) big leagues

    Derived terms

    * showbusiness, showbiz * show business * showlike * showy * talk show

    See also

    * showman * showpiece * show-stopper * show-stopping

    Statistics

    *

    present

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic or pedantic) *

    Etymology 1

    (wikipedia present) From (etyl), from (etyl), from (etyl) praesent-, praesens present participle of .

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Relating to now, for the time being; current.
  • The barbaric practice continues to the present day.
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=All this was extraordinarily distasteful to Churchill. It was ugly, gross. Never before had he felt such repulsion when the vicar displayed his characteristic bluntness or coarseness of speech. In the present connexion […] such talk had been distressingly out of place.}}
  • Located in the immediate vicinity.
  • (obsolete) Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.
  • *, II.5.1.v:
  • Amongst this number of cordials and alteratives I do not find a more present remedy than a cup of wine or strong drink, if it be soberly and opportunely used.
  • (obsolete) Not delayed; immediate; instant.
  • * Shakespeare
  • a present pardon
  • * Massinger
  • An ambassadordesires a present audience.
  • (dated) Ready; quick in emergency.
  • a present wit
  • (obsolete) Favorably attentive; propitious.
  • * Dryden
  • to find a god so present to my prayer
    Antonyms
    * (in vicinity) absent
    Derived terms
    * all present and correct * at present * at the present time * present company excepted * presently * present participle * present tense

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The current moment or period of time.
  • The present tense.
  • Derived terms
    * no time like the present * present-day

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) presenten'', from (etyl) ''presenter'', from (etyl) ''presentare'' "to show", from (etyl) ''praesent-, praesens'' present participle of ''praeesse "to be in front of".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gift, especially one given for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, or any other special occasions.
  • * , chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“A very welcome, kind, useful present , that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing. […]”}}
  • (military) The position of a soldier in presenting arms.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally.
  • to present an envoy to the king
  • To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
  • To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration.
  • * 1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 71:
  • In the diocese of Gloucester in 1548 two inhabitants of Slimbridge were presented for saying that holy oil was ‘of no virtue but meet to grease sheep’.
  • (reflexive) To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally.
  • * Bible, Job i. 6
  • Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord.
  • To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • So ladies in romance assist their knight, / Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
  • To make clear to one's mind or intelligence; to put forward for consideration.
  • * 1927 , (Arthur Conan Doyle), The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes :
  • I do begin to realize that the matter must be presented in such a way as may interest the reader.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
  • , author=Steven Sloman , title=The Battle Between Intuition and Deliberation , volume=100, issue=1, page=74 , magazine= citation , passage=Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented' to citizens affects what they choose, society should ' present options in a way that “nudges” our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control.}}
  • To put on, stage (a play etc.).
  • The theater is proud to present the Fearless Fliers.
  • (military) To point (a firearm) at something, to hold (a weapon) in a position ready to fire.
  • (reflexive) To offer oneself for mental consideration; to occur to the mind.
  • Well, one idea does present itself.
  • (medicine) To appear (in a specific way) for delivery (of a fetus); to appear first at the mouth of the uterus during childbirth.
  • (medicine) To come to the attention of medical staff, especially with a specific symptom.
  • The patient presented with insomnia.
  • To act as presenter on (a radio, television programme etc.).
  • Anne Robinson presents "The Weakest Link".
  • To give a gift or presentation to (someone).
  • She was presented with an honorary degree for her services to entertainment.
  • To give (a gift or presentation) to someone; to bestow.
  • * Cowper
  • My last, least offering, I present thee now.
  • To deliver (something abstract) as though as a gift; to offer.
  • I presented my compliments to Lady Featherstoneshaw.
  • To hand over (a bill etc.) to be paid.
  • Derived terms
    * present arms

    Statistics

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