demonstrate

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *monéyeti Proto-Italic *moneō Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-trom Proto-Italic *-trom Proto-Italic *monestrom Latin mōnstrum Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin mōnstrō Latin dēmōnstrō Latin dēmōnstrātusbor. English demonstrate Borrowed from Latin dēmonstrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēmonstrō (“to show, point at”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French démontrer.

1. To show how to use (something).

   “Can you demonstrate the new tools for us?”

   “In this tape, a velvet-voiced narrator provides a stroke-by-stroke guide to massaging your partner. As she speaks, comely nude couples demonstrate.”

2. To show the steps taken to create a logical argument or equation.
3. To participate in or organize a demonstration.

   “Those people outside are demonstrating against the election results.”

4. To show, display, or present; to prove or make evident

   “The debate was not long on policy, as questions about the Affordable Care Act and the war in Syria demonstrated.”

   “"What we are trying to demonstrate is that freight lines at lower speeds can be electrified much more cheaply. […]"”