demonstrate

UK: /ˈdɛmənstreɪt/ US: /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/ ,(dem′ən strāt′)

Inflections of 'demonstrate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

demonstrates

v 3rd person singular

demonstrating

v pres p

demonstrated

v past

demonstrated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dem•on•strate /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/   v., -strat•ed, -strat•ing. 

1. to describe, explain, or illustrate by examples;
   teach;
   show: [ ~ + obj]:
   demonstrated the proper method of fastening the parachute.
   [ ~ + clause]:
   demonstrated how to fire the rifle.
2. to make evident or establish by reasoning;
   prove: [ ~ + obj]:
   This demonstrates my point.
   [ ~ + (that) clause]:
   demonstrated that time had to be the fourth dimension.
3. [ ~ + obj] to display openly or publicly:
   The firefighters demonstrated great courage.
4. [ ~ + obj] to exhibit the operation or use of (a product), esp. to a prospective customer:
   going door to door, demonstrating vacuum cleaners.
5. [no obj] to make, give, or take part in a demonstration:
   demonstrating against the new quotas.

See -monstr-. Related Words

demonstrate is a verb, demonstrative is an adjective, demonstration is a noun:
Let me demonstrate how this works. He's very demonstrative; he always hugs his children. There was a demonstration against the war.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dem•on•strate  (dem′ən strāt′), v., -strat•ed, -strat•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to make evident or establish by arguments or reasoning;
   prove:
   to demonstrate a philosophical principle.
2. to describe, explain, or illustrate by examples, specimens, experiments, or the like:
   to demonstrate the force of gravity by dropping an object.
3. to manifest or exhibit;
   show:
   He demonstrated his courage by his actions in battle.
4. to display openly or publicly, as feelings:
   to demonstrate one's anger by slamming a door.
5. to exhibit the operation or use of (a device, process, product, or the like), usually to a purchaser or prospect:
   to demonstrate an automobile.

v.i. 

6. to make, give, or take part in, a demonstration:
   The pickets required a license to demonstrate.
7. Military to attack or make a show of force to deceive an enemy.

• Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre to show, point out, equivalent. to dē- de- + monstrāre to show, verb, verbal derivative of monstrum sign, portent
• 1545–55

dem′on•strat′ed•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. show, confirm, verify, corroborate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

demonstrate / ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to show, manifest, or prove, esp by reasoning, evidence, etc
2. (transitive) to evince; reveal the existence of
3. (transitive) to explain or illustrate by experiment, example, etc
4. (transitive) to display, operate, and explain the workings of (a machine, product, etc)
5. (intransitive) to manifest support, protest, etc, by public parades or rallies
6. (intransitive) to be employed as a demonstrator of machinery, etc
7. (intransitive) to make a show of force, esp in order to deceive one's enemy

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dēmonstrāre to point out, from monstrāre to show