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

showy

SHOH-ee
Quiz me More like this

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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like showy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Comparative
showier
Superlative
showiest
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