Browse all

show around

A2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To take someone on a tour and show them what's in a place.

Literal meaning: To display things in the surrounding area — fairly transparent.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To escort someone through a place and introduce them to its features or people.

"My colleague offered to show me around the new office on my first day."

"I'll show you around the school."

— Roald Dahl, 'Danny the Champion of the World' (1975)
Grammar: separable
2 A2 neutral

To introduce a visitor or new arrival to a place generally, without a fixed route.

"When guests arrive at the hotel, staff are expected to show them around and answer any questions."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The object (the person being guided) can be inserted: 'show someone around somewhere'. When no specific place is named, the particle still follows: 'Let me show you around.' Common in both professional and social contexts.

Commonly used with

office house city campus museum apartment

Forms

Base
show around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shows around
he/she/it
Past simple
showed around
yesterday
Past participle
shown around
have + pp
-ing form
showing around
continuous

Understand "show around" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "show around" on Looplines