Show off or showoff?
show off is a verb meaning “To exhibit the best attributes of something”; showoff is a noun meaning “Alternative form of show-off”. show off is written as two words and showoff as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between show off and showoff?
| show off | showoff | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | verb, noun | noun |
| Meaning | To exhibit the best attributes of something To attract attention to for the purpose of bragging or personal exhibitionism; to demonstrate a skill, talent or property for the purpose of bragging or… One who shows off; a person given to egotistically demonstrating their prowess or ability | Alternative form of show-off |
| Example | Grocery stores show off their produce by placing the most attractive specimens in front | none recorded |
| Forms | none | showoffs |
| Pronunciation | /ˌʃəʊ ˈɒf/ /ˌʃoʊ ˈɔf/ /ˌʃoʊ ˈɑf/ | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | about once in every 8 million words |
Sources: show off and showoff in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of show off and showoff
show off
- 1
To exhibit the best attributes of something
Grocery stores show off their produce by placing the most attractive specimens in front
- 2
One who shows off; a person given to egotistically demonstrating their prowess or ability
Quit being such a show-off, before someone gets hurt
- 3
To attract attention to for the purpose of bragging or personal exhibitionism; to demonstrate a skill, talent or property for the purpose of bragging or personal exhibitionism
She loves to show off her driving prowess
showoff
- 1
Alternative form of show-off
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, show off or showoff?
show off is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; showoff about once in every 8 million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).