noun

showboat

SHOH-boht

Showboat (noun) means a river steamboat with an onboard theatre, once used for travelling entertainment. Example: “The showboat used to travel up and down the Mississippi.”

noun

A river steamboat with an onboard theatre, once used for travelling entertainment.

"The showboat used to travel up and down the Mississippi."

verb

To show off, often in a flashy or attention-seeking way.

"He loves showboating in front of the cameras."

How to use showboat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo show off; historically, a floating theatre.

When to use it

The verb sense is informal and usually mildly critical.

Common pairings

stop showboating

Word forms

showboated past tense, showboats plural, showboats singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “showboat” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ used to travel up and down the Mississippi.

Etymology

From show + boat.

Rhymes for showboat

oat boat coat goat moat float bloat gloat groat throat afloat tugboat

See all rhymes for showboat →

Frequently asked questions

What does “showboat” mean?

The word “showboat” means a river steamboat with an onboard theatre, once used for travelling entertainment. In plain terms, to show off; historically, a floating theatre.

How do you pronounce “showboat”?

“Showboat” is pronounced SHOH-boht (/ˈʃoʊˌboʊt/ in IPA).

How do you use “showboat” in a sentence?

Here is “showboat” used in a sentence: “The showboat used to travel up and down the Mississippi.”

What part of speech is “showboat”?

Depending on how it is used, “showboat” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “showboat” have?

“Showboat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a river steamboat with an onboard theatre, once used for travelling entertainment.