shown

shown — verb

1. the form of the verb 'show' that combines with 'have', 'has', or 'had' to talk a

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

the form of the verb 'show' that combines with 'have', 'has', or 'had' to talk about something that has already happened, or with forms of 'be' to describe something that is made visible, proved, or explained to someone.

Example

Nala has shown great improvement in her Chinese since she started taking lessons.

present perfect: have shown + noun phrase

The old map had shown a road through the forest, but we could not find it.

past perfect: had shown + noun phrase + but-clause

Common collocations
  • studies have shown
  • research has shown
  • experience has shown
  • shown clearly
  • shown to be
  • shown around
  • shown previously
  • shown above
Synonyms
  • displayed

    focuses on something being placed where people can see it; stronger visual connotation than 'shown'

  • demonstrated

    suggests proving or explaining how something works; more deliberate and instructional

  • revealed

    implies making something previously hidden or unknown visible or known

  • exhibited

    more formal than 'shown', often used in museums, galleries, or professional contexts

Antonyms
  • hidden

    the opposite of making something visible; something that is not shown

  • concealed

    more formal than 'hidden', implying deliberate effort not to show

Grammar Patterns

have shown + noun phrase

be shown + noun phrase

be shown + that-clause

be shown to + infinitive

Usage Note

This is the past participle form of 'show', used with auxiliary verbs. The simple past form is 'showed' (e.g., 'She showed me the photo yesterday'). In British English, 'shown' is the standard past participle; 'showed' is occasionally used in informal American English, but 'shown' is preferred in formal writing everywhere.

Common Mistakes

I have showed him the report yesterday.
I showed him the report yesterday.
'showed' is the simple past, not the past participle. Use 'showed' without an auxiliary verb for a completed past action.
The results have been showed to the team.
The results have been shown to the team.
After 'have been' you need the past participle 'shown', not the simple past 'showed'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words can replace 'shown' in certain contexts but differ in emphasis. 'Demonstrated' implies a step-by-step explanation or proof of how something works (e.g., 'The teacher demonstrated the correct method'). 'Displayed' focuses on arranging something for public viewing, often visually (e.g., 'The museum displayed the ancient pottery'). 'Revealed' suggests uncovering something that was hidden or unknown, often with dramatic effect (e.g., 'The investigation revealed new evidence'). 'Exhibited' is more formal than 'shown' and is common in professional or artistic settings (e.g., 'The artist exhibited her work in Tokyo'). 'Proven' carries a stronger sense of finality, especially in legal or scientific writing (e.g., 'The drug has been proven effective'). In everyday writing, 'shown' is the most neutral and widely used of the group.

demonstrateddisplayedrevealedexhibitedproven ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • studies have shown that
  • research has shown that
  • as shown by
  • as shown in Figure

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Shown' is the past participle of 'show', which comes from Old English 'scēawian' meaning 'to look at, see, or observe'. This word traces back to Proto-Germanic '*skauwōną' and further to Proto-Indo-European '*skew-' meaning 'to pay attention or perceive'. The past participle form 'shown' developed in Middle English, gradually replacing the earlier form 'shewed' as the standard participle.