shower

shower — noun

1. a piece of bathroom equipment that sprays water from above so you can wash your

1.nounA2
Definition

a piece of bathroom equipment that sprays water from above so you can wash your body while standing under it

Example

The shower in the guest bathroom has two different water settings.

collocation: two water settings

Ziad installed a new glass shower last weekend.

collocation: install a shower

Common collocations
  • install a shower
  • fix a shower
  • shower head
  • shower cubicle
  • shower curtain
Synonyms
  • showerhead

    refers only to the part that sprays water, not the whole fixture

Grammar Patterns

the shower

a shower

Usage Note

Often used with 'fix', 'install', or 'repair' when talking about the hardware.

2. the activity of washing your body by standing under a spray of water that falls

2.nounA1
Definition

the activity of washing your body by standing under a spray of water that falls from above

Example

Élise takes a cold shower every morning before work.

collocation: take a shower

After the race, Aarav needed a long hot shower to relax his muscles.

collocation: hot shower

Common collocations
  • take a shower
  • have a shower
  • hot shower
  • cold shower
  • quick shower
  • long shower
Synonyms
  • wash

    more general — can mean cleaning hands, face, or dishes

  • bath

    washing while sitting in a tub of water, not standing

Grammar Patterns

have a shower

take a shower

Usage Note

Typically appears in the fixed phrases 'take a shower' (more American) or 'have a shower' (more British).

Common Mistakes

I need to have a shower bath.
I need to take a shower.
'shower bath' is redundant; 'shower' alone is sufficient.

3. a small room or corner of a bathroom designed for standing under a spray of wate

3.nounA2
Definition

a small room or corner of a bathroom designed for standing under a spray of water to wash yourself

Example

The shower in the gym has a tiled floor and a wooden bench.

Lan scrubbed the shower walls until they were completely clean.

collocation: clean the shower

Common collocations
  • in the shower
  • shower stall
  • shower cubicle
  • shower walls
  • shower floor
Synonyms
  • shower stall

    specifically the enclosed standing area with walls or a curtain

  • shower cubicle

    chiefly British, a small enclosed area for showering

Grammar Patterns

in the shower

the shower

Usage Note

Often preceded by 'in' as in 'in the shower'. Can also refer to a separate shower stall in a shared bathroom.

4. rain or snow that falls for a short while and then stops, often quite suddenly

4.nounB1
Definition

rain or snow that falls for a short while and then stops, often quite suddenly

Example

A light shower in the morning cooled the city streets.

collocation: light shower

Gabriela got caught in a sudden shower while walking home from school.

collocation: sudden shower

Common collocations
  • light shower
  • heavy shower
  • scattered showers
  • rain shower
  • snow shower
  • sudden shower
Synonyms
  • downpour

    much heavier and more intense than a shower

  • drizzle

    very light rain with tiny drops

  • cloudburst

    sudden very heavy rain, less common

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a shower of + noun

scattered showers

Usage Note

Modified by 'light', 'heavy', 'scattered' to describe intensity and coverage. 'Scattered showers' suggests they occur in different places rather than continuously.

Common Mistakes

We had a heavy rain shower all day long.
We had heavy showers on and off all day.
a shower is brief by definition; for all-day rain use 'rain' or 'rainfall'.

5. a burst of many small items or droplets that fly through the air at once

5.nounB2
Definition

a burst of many small items or droplets that fly through the air at once

Example

A shower of sparks flew up from the campfire into the night air.

collocation: shower of sparks

The fireworks exploded into a shower of gold and red lights.

Common collocations
  • shower of sparks
  • shower of confetti
  • shower of glass
  • shower of bullets
  • shower of stones
Synonyms
  • stream

    suggests continuous flow rather than scattered falling

  • burst

    emphasises suddenness more than scattering

  • spray

    specifically drops of liquid forced through air

Grammar Patterns

a shower of + plural noun

Usage Note

Always followed by 'of' plus a plural noun naming the objects that are falling. The objects are usually small and numerous.

6. a great quantity of things, especially praise, gifts, or criticism, arriving all

6.nounB2
Definition

a great quantity of things, especially praise, gifts, or criticism, arriving all at once

Example

The winner received a shower of praise from the judges and the audience.

collocation: shower of praise

The actor faced a shower of criticism after making those comments.

collocation: shower of criticism

Common collocations
  • shower of praise
  • shower of criticism
  • shower of compliments
  • shower of gifts
  • shower of attention
Synonyms
  • flood

    suggests an overwhelming quantity that is hard to handle

  • avalanche

    even more overwhelming, suggests being buried

  • barrage

    implies continuous and forceful arrival, often of questions or criticism

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a shower of + abstract noun

Usage Note

Almost always figurative, using abstract nouns like 'praise', 'criticism', 'compliments', 'gifts'. The sense extends the 'shower of objects' metaphor to non-physical things.

7. a party where friends bring gifts for a bride-to-be or an expectant mother

7.nounB1
Definition

a party where friends bring gifts for a bride-to-be or an expectant mother

Example

Nia's friends planned a baby shower with cakes and balloons.

collocation: baby shower

The bridal shower was held at a small restaurant near the park.

collocation: bridal shower

Common collocations
  • baby shower
  • bridal shower
  • wedding shower
  • have a shower for
  • shower gifts
  • shower invitation
Synonyms
  • celebration

    more general, not specific to gift-giving for a bride or mother-to-be

  • gift-giving party

    descriptive but less common as a fixed term

Grammar Patterns

a baby shower

a bridal shower

have a shower for + person

Usage Note

Commonly combined with 'baby' or 'bridal' to specify the occasion. 'Baby shower' celebrates an expected birth; 'bridal/wedding shower' celebrates an upcoming marriage.

Common Mistakes

I'm going to a shower for my friend who just got married.
I'm going to a wedding shower for my friend.
'shower' alone for a party can be confusing; specify 'baby shower' or 'bridal shower'.

shower — verb

Word family

  • showery
    adjectiveB2
  • showerproof
    adjectiveC1
  • showerhead
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

While 'shower' (washing activity) means cleaning your body standing under a spray of water, 'bath' means washing while sitting in a tub of water. A shower is typically quicker and uses less water; a bath is more relaxing and involves soaking. 'Wash' is a broader term that can refer to cleaning any part of your body or even objects, not just your whole body. 'Wash up' in British English means washing your hands and face, not a full-body wash. For example: 'I took a quick shower before heading to the airport' (fast, standing) vs 'I had a hot bath after work to relax' (slow, soaking) vs 'Please wash your hands before dinner' (partial, general) vs 'I need to wash up after gardening' (British, hands and face only).

shower ↗bath ↗wash ↗wash up ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • shower head
  • shower cap
  • shower curtain
  • shower gel
  • shower cubicle

Adverbs

Phrases

  • take a shower
  • have a shower
  • get in the shower
  • step out of the shower

Prepositions

  • in the shower
  • under the shower
  • out of the shower

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'shower' comes from Old English 'scur', which meant a short fall of rain or a storm. This word traces back to Proto-Germanic '*skuraz' and is related to Old High German 'skur' and Old Norse 'skor'. By the 1400s, English speakers used it figuratively for things falling like rain, such as 'a shower of arrows'. The meaning of a device for washing the body dates from the mid-1800s, when indoor plumbing became more common. The social-party sense ('baby shower', 'bridal shower') emerged in the early 1900s, carrying the metaphor of 'showering' gifts on someone.