shown: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal; commonly used in writing and speech.
Quick answer
What does “shown” mean?
Past participle and alternative past tense of 'show'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Past participle and alternative past tense of 'show'; to have made something visible or known.
Used to indicate that something has been demonstrated, proved, revealed, or displayed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'shown' is the overwhelmingly dominant past participle and is also used as a simple past form by some speakers, though 'showed' is standard for simple past. In American English, 'shown' is the standard past participle, and 'showed' is the standard simple past, though 'shown' as a simple past is occasionally seen in certain dialects or informal contexts.
Connotations
Identical in connotation.
Frequency
"Shown" is high-frequency in both dialects as a participle. The simple past form 'showed' is slightly more frequent than 'shown' in this function in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “shown” in a Sentence
[NP1] has shown [NP2] [to NP3][NP1] has shown [that]-clause[NP1] has shown [NP2] to be ADJ[NP1] was shown [NP2] [to NP3] (passive dative)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shown” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He has never shown any interest in cricket.
- The film was shown on the BBC last night.
- She shown great courage throughout the ordeal. (dialectal/narrative past)
American English
- The report has shown a need for further investment.
- He was shown the evidence by the lawyer.
- I wish he had shown up on time.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports and presentations: 'The quarterly figures have shown significant growth.'
Academic
Common in research papers: 'The experiment has shown a clear correlation.'
Everyday
Used in general conversation: 'Have you shown your mum the new photos?'
Technical
Used in computing and displays: 'An error message was shown on the screen.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shown”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shown”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shown”
- Using 'showed' incorrectly as a past participle (e.g., 'I have showed' is considered non-standard). Overusing 'shown' as a simple past in formal writing where 'showed' is expected.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Shown' is the standard past participle in modern English for both British and American English. 'Showed' as a past participle (e.g., 'I have showed') is considered non-standard, though it appears in some dialects.
In standard English, 'showed' is the preferred simple past tense (e.g., 'He showed me'). However, 'shown' is used as a simple past form in some UK dialects, Scottish English, and occasionally in informal American English, but it is not the formal standard.
Primarily, 'showed' is the simple past tense, and 'shown' is the past participle. Use 'showed' for actions completed in the past (He showed me yesterday). Use 'shown' with auxiliary verbs like 'have', 'has', 'had', or 'was' (He has shown me; It was shown on TV).
No, 'shown' is not used as a standalone adjective. The related participial adjective is 'shown' only as part of a verb phrase (e.g., 'the shown image'). For a standalone adjective meaning 'visible' or 'apparent', use words like 'evident', 'apparent', or 'obvious'.
Shown is usually neutral to formal; commonly used in writing and speech. in register.
Shown: in British English it is pronounced /ʃəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shown the door (dismissed)”
- “shown in a bad light”
- “shown the ropes (instructed)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'It's known because it's SHOWN' – both words rhyme and share the idea of making knowledge visible.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING (e.g., 'The data shows us the truth'), VISIBILITY IS PROOF.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'shown' correctly as a past participle?