Adjacent Words

Demonstrate definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DEMONSTRATE, v.t. [L. To show.]
1. To show or prove to be certain; to prove beyond the possibility of doubt; to prove in such a manner as to reduce the contrary position to evident absurdity. We demonstrate a problem in geometry, or a proposition in ethics, by showing that the contrary is absurd or impossible.
2. In anatomy, to exhibit the parts when disected.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: give an exhibition of to an interested audience; "She shows her dogs frequently"; "We will demo the new software in Washington" [syn: show, demo, exhibit, present, demonstrate]
2: 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" [syn: prove, demonstrate, establish, show, shew] [ant: confute, disprove]
3: provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes; "His high fever attested to his illness"; "The buildings in Rome manifest a high level of architectural sophistication"; "This decision demonstrates his sense of fairness" [syn: attest, certify, manifest, demonstrate, evidence]
4: march in protest; take part in a demonstration; "Thousands demonstrated against globalization during the meeting of the most powerful economic nations in Seattle" [syn: demonstrate, march]

Merriam Webster's

verb (-strated; -strating) Etymology: Latin demonstratus, past participle of demonstrare, from de- + monstrare to show — more at muster Date: 1548 transitive verb 1. to show clearly <demonstrate a willingness to cooperate> 2. a. to prove or make clear by reasoning or evidence b. to illustrate and explain especially with many examples <demonstrate a procedure> 3. to show or prove the value or efficiency of to a prospective buyer <demonstrate a new product> intransitive verb to make a demonstration <crowds demonstrating for the right to vote> Synonyms: see show

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. 1 tr. show evidence of (feelings etc.). 2 tr. describe and explain (a scientific proposition, machine, etc.) by experiment, practical use, etc. 3 tr. a logically prove the truth of. b be proof of the existence of. 4 intr. take part in or organize a public demonstration. 5 intr. act as a demonstrator. Etymology: L demonstrare (as DE-, monstrare show)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Demonstrate Dem"on*strate (?; 277), v. t. [L. demonstratus, p. p. of demonstrare to demonstrate; de- + monstrare to show. See Monster.] 1. To point out; to show; to exhibit; to make evident. --Shak. 2. To show, or make evident, by reasoning or proof; to prove by deduction; to establish so as to exclude the possibility of doubt or denial. We can not demonstrate these things so as to show that the contrary often involves a contradiction. --Tillotson. 3. (Anat.) To exhibit and explain (a dissection or other anatomical preparation).

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(demonstrates, demonstrating, demonstrated) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. To demonstrate a fact means to make it clear to people. The study also demonstrated a direct link between obesity and mortality... You have to demonstrate that you are reliable... They are anxious to demonstrate to the voters that they have practical policies... He's demonstrated how a campaign based on domestic issues can move votes. = show, prove VERB: V n, V that, V to n that, V wh 2. If you demonstrate a particular skill, quality, or feeling, you show by your actions that you have it. Have they, for example, demonstrated a commitment to democracy?... = show, display VERB: V n 3. When people demonstrate, they march or gather somewhere to show their opposition to something or their support for something. 30,000 angry farmers demonstrated against possible cuts in subsidies... In the cities vast crowds have been demonstrating for change... Thousands of people demonstrated outside the parliament building. = protest VERB: V against n, V for n, V 4. If you demonstrate something, you show people how it works or how to do it. The BBC has just successfully demonstrated a new digital radio transmission system... A style consultant will demonstrate how to dress to impress. VERB: V n, V how

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. Prove, establish, show, make evident, make certain, show beyond the possibility of doubt.

Moby Thesaurus

account for, adumbrate, advertise, affect, afford proof of, air, allegorize, approve, argue, ascertain, attest, audit, balance, balance the books, beef, bespeak, betoken, bitch, blazon forth, body forth, boggle, boycott, brandish, breathe, bring forth, bring forward, bring home to, bring into view, bring out, bring to notice, broaden the mind, call in question, call to mind, catechize, challenge, check, check out, cinch, cite, cite a particular, civilize, clarify, clear up, clinch, complain, connote, crack, cry out against, dangle, decipher, demonstrate against, demur, demythologize, denote, describe, determine, develop, direct, disclose, display, dispute, divulge, document, double-check, dramatize, edify, educate, elucidate, emblazon, embody, enact, enlighten, enter a protest, establish, euhemerize, evidence, evince, example, exemplify, exhibit, explain, explain away, explicate, expose, expose to view, exposit, expostulate, expound, express, figure, fix, flash, flaunt, flourish, follow, follow from, foreshadow, furnish evidence, give a for-instance, give indication of, give instruction, give lessons in, give reason for, give sign, give the meaning, give token, go to show, ground, guide, have a case, highlight, hold good, hold up, hold water, holler, howl, illuminate, illumine, illustrate, image, impersonate, imply, incarnate, indicate, inform, instance, instruct, inventory, involve, itemize, kick, make clear, make good, make out, make plain, manifest, march, mark, materialize, mean, mirror, nail down, name, object, open the eyes, overhaul, parade, particularize, perform, personate, personify, picket, point to, popularize, prefigure, present, press objections, pretypify, proclaim, produce, project, protest, prove, prove to be, prove true, put forth, put forward, quote, raise a howl, rally, rationalize, realize, reeducate, reflect, remonstrate, remove all doubt, represent, reveal, roll out, school, scruple, set, set at rest, set forth, set right, settle, settle the matter, shadow, shadow forth, sharpen the wits, shed light upon, show, show forth, show how, show signs of, show the way, signalize, signify, simplify, sit in, solve, speak for itself, speak volumes, spell out, sport, spotlight, squawk, state a grievance, strike, suggest, symptomatize, take stock, teach, teach a lesson, teach in, teach the rudiments, tell, tend to show, throw light upon, token, trot out, trumpet, trumpet forth, unfold, unlock, unravel, vaunt, verify, wave, yell bloody murder