Showed is the past tense of show, meaning to displayed or presented something. It denotes a completed action of demonstrating or revealing something to someone. In everyday use, it often answers questions like what was demonstrated or revealed, typically used in narratives and reports about past events.
"I showed her the map to the hidden trail."
"They showed interest by asking detailed questions."
"He showed up late, but brought the diagrams afterward."
"The teacher showed how to solve the problem step by step."
Showed comes from the verb show, which traces to Old English sceawian, eo old Germanic roots meaning to look at, to see, or to reveal. The modern sense of publicly displaying or presenting something developed through Middle English into Early Modern English, aligning with related Germanic verbs like show and SHOW in various European languages. The verb show originated from Proto-Germanic *saukijanan, carrying the core semantic thread of making something visible or evident. As English evolved, the past tense form showed (from show) emerged following the general English pattern of adding -ed to regular verbs. The word reached stable common usage by the 16th century in narrative prose and legal documents, underscoring acts of demonstration, presentation, or disclosure. Over time, “showed” broadened into contexts ranging from theatrical performances to interpersonal demonstrations, to instructional steps and evidentiary disclosures in reporting. The semantic field thus extended from the literal making visible to more abstract forms of indicating or proving something, a trajectory that remains evident in contemporary usage across informal and formal registers.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Showed" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Showed" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Showed" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Showed"
-wed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as /ʃoʊd/ in US English and /ʃəʊd/ in UK/AU English. The /ʃ/ is a sh-sound made with the tongue near the roof of the mouth; the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ is a closed-dipthong starting with a mid-back vowel that glides toward a high back position; finally, /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. Your lips should round slightly for the /oʊ/ and your jaw should relax into the diphthong before pressing the tongue to the alveolar ridge for /d/.
Common errors include shortening the vowel too much, producing a pure /o/ instead of the diphthong /oʊ/ or /əʊ/, and misplacing voicing on the final /d/ which can sound like a /t/ or a devoiced /t/. Correct by keeping the nucleus in the diphthong long enough to glide toward the /d/ without breaking the sound, and ensure your tongue taps the alveolar ridge for a clean /d/ rather than a glottal stop.
In US English, /ʃoʊd/ features a clearly diphthong /oʊ/ with a smoother glide; UK and AU speakers often reduce to /ʃəʊd/ with a more centralized /ə/ in some dialects, and may have a shorter, less pronounced diphthong in rapid speech. Rhotic influence is minimal in these tones, and vowel quality tends to remain rounded in careful speech but can become flatter in casual speech. Pay attention to the /d/ onset, which remains a crisp alveolar stop across accents.
The difficulty lies in producing the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ diphthong smoothly before the /d/. Many English learners substitute a simple vowel like /o/ or over-shortened /oʊ/, which weakens intelligibility. Another challenge is the transition from the vowel to the final /d/, which requires precise tongue tip contact with the alveolar ridge. Practicing the glide and avoiding a strong glottal stop before /d/ helps maintain naturalness.
A unique query focuses on whether the /d/ is marked or released. In careful speech, you release the /d/ clearly with a brief voicing after the stop, ensuring a clean coda. Some speakers, especially in casual contexts, may voice less strongly, making the final sound slightly softer. Focus on the release gesture: a short burst of air followed by clear voicing, with the tongue at the alveolar ridge. IPA: /ʃoʊd/ or /ʃəʊd/ depending on dialect.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Showed"!
No related words found
