not show up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not show up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something fails to appear or attend an event or location. Example: "I was surprised when he did not show up to the meeting we scheduled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Not show up?

The New York Times - Sports

"My friend did not show up".

The New Yorker

I can't just not show up".

The New Yorker

He did not show up till midnight.

The New York Times

She may not show up at all.

The New York Times

"They did not show up," Papachristou said.

The New York Times - Sports

But Mira did not show up for the trial.

The New Yorker

Tells how Cher did not show up at the taping.

The New Yorker

How could he not show up for the funeral?

The New York Times

"You must not show up in a skirt," she said.

The New York Times

Mr. Bulaevsky did not show up for work on Monday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not show up" when you want to directly state someone's absence from an expected event or location. It's versatile and easily understood in most contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "not show up" in extremely formal contexts like legal documents. Opt for more formal alternatives like "fail to appear" or "did not attend" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "not show up" functions as a predicate, indicating the action of failing to appear or attend. As shown in Ludwig, it's used to express absence from an expected event or location.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not show up" is a commonly used and generally acceptable phrasal verb that means to fail to appear or attend. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalent use across diverse sources like news media and online encyclopedias. While versatile, it's best to consider the formality of the context and opt for more formal alternatives like "fail to appear" in professional or legal settings. Overall, "not show up" is a reliable and easily understood way to express absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fail to appear

Formal alternative implying a failure to be present at a scheduled event.

not turn up

British English equivalent of "not show up".

not attend

Direct and neutral way of saying someone didn't go to something.

be absent

Focuses on the state of being away rather than the act of not attending.

miss the event

Highlights the missed opportunity rather than the absence itself.

not make it

Informal way of saying someone was unable to attend.

skip

Suggests a deliberate decision to not attend.

opt out

Suggests a conscious decision to withdraw from participation.

ditch

Very informal, implies avoiding an obligation.

no-show

Noun form referring to someone who didn't attend.

FAQs

What does "not show up" mean?

The phrase "not show up" means to fail to appear or attend a scheduled event, meeting, or location. It simply indicates an absence where presence was expected.

What can I say instead of "not show up"?

You can use alternatives like "fail to appear", "not attend", or "be absent" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "did not show up" or "didn't show up"?

"Didn't show up" is a contraction of "did not show up" and is generally more informal. Both are grammatically correct, but "did not show up" may be preferred in formal writing.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "not show up"?

While generally acceptable, "not show up" may be too informal for legal documents or highly formal communication. Consider using alternatives like "fail to appear" in such instances.