English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj C1 Advanced

showy

SHOH-ee

Showy (adj) means Flashy or attracting a lot of attention, often in an exaggerated way. Example: “He pulled up in a showy red sports car.”

adj
1
Flashy or attracting a lot of attention, often in an exaggerated way.
"He pulled up in a showy red sports car."
"Her showy jewelry drew stares across the room."

How to use showy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDesigned to attract attention — bold, flashy, and hard to miss.

Common mistake

Showy usually carries a slightly negative or over-the-top tone, unlike neutral words like "colorful" or "striking."

Common pairings
showy display showy car showy jewelry

Word forms

showier comparative, showiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “showy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He pulled up in a _____ red sports car.

Etymology

From show + -y.

Related words

Rhymes for showy

See all rhymes for showy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “showy” mean?

The word “showy” means flashy or attracting a lot of attention, often in an exaggerated way. In plain terms, designed to attract attention — bold, flashy, and hard to miss.

How do you pronounce “showy”?

“Showy” is pronounced SHOH-ee (/ˈʃoʊ.i/ in IPA).

How do you use “showy” in a sentence?

Here is “showy” used in a sentence: “He pulled up in a showy red sports car.”

What is another word for “showy”?

Words with a similar meaning to “showy” include gaudy.

What part of speech is “showy”?

“Showy” is an adjective.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial