for show

idiom

1
: intended to be seen but not used or bought
We're not supposed to eat the fruit on the table. It's just for show.
2
disapproving : done in order to gain the approval or favor of others
He says he enjoys classical music, but it's only for show.

Examples of for show in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The key theme that sounded the alarm for show business executives: The way young people consume entertainment is changing. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025 Any Btu less than 40,000 is more for show than for heating. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Over time, both partners may feel as though their love and affection for one another are just for show. Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 Some Senate Democrats see the plan to vote for cloture but against final passage as a way to thread the needle, while others have argued that a vote on the short-term continuing resolution isn't for show. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for for show

Cite this Entry

“For show.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20show. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!