showed up

USAGE SUMMARY

"showed up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has arrived at a place they were expected to be. Example: Mark showed up late to the party, much to his friends' surprise.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(They never showed up).

The New York Times

Campers showed up gradually.

The New York Times

(Wednesday showed up as Wed).

The New York Times

Not many people showed up".

The New Yorker

"Instead, 700 people showed up".

The New York Times

She showed up in jeans.

The New York Times

I showed up early.

Forbes

We showed up late.

Huffington Post

B) Never showed up.

The New York Times

Unexpected people showed up.

The New York Times

"He hasn't showed up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "showed up" when you want to emphasize the act of appearing or arriving, especially if there was some uncertainty or expectation involved.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct tense of "show up" based on the context. Using "show up" instead of "showed up" when referring to a past event is a common mistake.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "showed up" is as a verb phrase, specifically the past tense form of the phrasal verb "show up". It indicates the action of arriving or appearing at a particular place or event. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "showed up" is a very common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate arrival or appearance, as validated by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media sources, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. For alternatives, consider "arrived", "appeared", or "turned up". Remember to use the correct tense and consider the context to ensure appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrived

Simple substitution, focusing on the act of reaching a destination.

appeared

Emphasizes the act of becoming visible or noticeable.

turned up

A more informal synonym, implying eventual or unexpected arrival.

made an appearance

Highlights the act of showing up, often for a brief period.

materialized

Suggests a sudden or unexpected appearance, often in a metaphorical sense.

surfaced

Suggests emerging after being hidden or absent.

presented oneself

Formal phrasing that highlights the act of making one's presence known.

attended

Focuses on participation or presence at a specific event or gathering.

reached

Highlights the completion of a journey to a particular place.

reported

Suggests arriving at a place to fulfill a duty or requirement.

FAQs

What does "showed up" mean?

"Showed up" is the past tense of the phrasal verb "show up", meaning to arrive or appear at a place, often when expected or anticipated.

What can I say instead of "showed up"?

You can use alternatives like "arrived", "appeared", or "turned up" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "showed up at" or "showed up to"?

While both can be used, "showed up at" is generally more common and grammatically standard when referring to a location. "Showed up to" is often used before a verb, implying a purpose.

What's the difference between "showed up" and "attended"?

"Showed up" implies a simple arrival or appearance, while "attended" suggests active participation or presence at an event or gathering.