demonstrate
verbCA, US, UK /ˈdɛm.ənˌstɹeɪt/ · AU, NZ /ˈdem.ənˌstɹæɪt/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin dēmonstrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēmonstrō (“to show, point at”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French démontrer.
1
To show how to use (something).
- Can you demonstrate the new tools for us?
- In this tape, a velvet-voiced narrator provides a stroke-by-stroke guide to massaging your partner. As she speaks, comely nude couples demonstrate.1987 February 8, Richard Zachs, “Candy is dandy (though maybe not liquor) - so for this Valentine's Day, video may be a whole lot more fun”, in The New York Daily News:
2
To show the steps taken to create a logical argument or equation.
3
To participate in or organize a demonstration.
- Those people outside are demonstrating against the election results.
4
To show, display, or present; to prove or make evident
- The debate was not long on policy, as questions about the Affordable Care Act and the war in Syria demonstrated.2016, David A. Graham, “Donald Trump's Disastrous Debate”, in The Atlantic, page http://www.theatlantic.com/liveblogs/2016/10/second-presidential-debate-clinton-trump/503495/:
- "What we are trying to demonstrate is that freight lines at lower speeds can be electrified much more cheaply. […]"2023 March 22, Paul Clifton, “CILT report urges £50m infill electrification schemes”, in RAIL, number 979, page 8:
- Derived terms
- counterdemonstrate, demonstratable, demonstratedly, demonstrative, demonstrator, demonstratory, nondemonstrating, redemonstrate, undemonstrated
- Related terms
- demo, demonstrable, demonstratedly, demonstration, monster, monstrance, remonstrate, show, prove