shower

1 of 3

noun (1)

show·​er ˈshau̇(-ə)r 

1

a

: a fall of rain of short duration

b

: a similar fall of sleet, hail, or snow

2

: something resembling a rain shower

a shower of statistics

especially : a fall of meteors which belong to a single group and whose trails appear to originate at the same point in space

3

: a party given by friends who bring gifts often of a particular kind

a bridal shower

4

: a bath in which water is showered on the body

also : the apparatus that provides a shower

showerless

ˈshau̇(-ə)r-ləs 

adjective

showery

ˈshau̇(-ə)-rē 

adjective

shower

2 of 3

verb

showered; showering; showers

intransitive verb

1

: to rain or fall in or as if in a shower

letters showered on him in praise and protest

2

: to bathe in a shower

transitive verb

1

a

: to wet (as with water) in a spray, fine stream, or drops

b(1)

: to cause to fall in a shower

factory chimneys showered soot on the district

(2)

: to cause a shower to fall on

showered the newlyweds with rice

2

: to give in abundance

showered her with honors

showerer

ˈshau̇(-ə)r-ər 

noun

shower

3 of 3

noun (2)

show·​er ˈshō-ər 

: one that shows : exhibitor

Phrases

to the showers

: out of the ball game

a pitcher sent to the showers

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• hail
• rain
• storm

Verb

• heap
• lavish
• pour
• rain

Examples of shower in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a shower of books fell from the collapsing shelves

a shower of insults and curses rained down on the criminal as he was led through the crowd

Verb

Please shower before using the pool.

Sparks from the machine showered onto the floor of the garage.

Rice showered down on the newlyweds as they left the church.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, by Wednesday, the front is expected to stall across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, keeping scattered showers and thunderstorms in the region until Thursday morning. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

For Election Day, though, the National Weather Service forecast a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with clouds in the morning and then skies gradually becoming sunny. —Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

New parents are often showered with gifts for their baby, so will appreciate anything that’s clearly just for them. —Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 5 Nov. 2024

The presidential victor will be showered in praise while the loser will be excoriated — no matter how close the election turns out to be. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English shour, from Old English scūr; akin to Old High German scūr shower, storm, Latin caurus northwest wind

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing shower

• baby shower
• bridal shower
• golden shower
• meteor shower
• shower bath
• shower/bathing cap
• shower cap
• shower gel

Kids Definition

shower

1 of 2 noun

show·​er ˈshau̇(-ə)r 

1

a

: a short fall of rain over a small area

b

: a similar fall of sleet, hail, or snow

2

: something resembling a shower

a shower of sparks

3

: a party where gifts are given especially to a bride or pregnant woman

4

: a bath in which water is sprayed on a person

also : a device for providing such a bath

shower

2 of 2 verb

1

: to rain or fall in or as if in a shower

2

: to bathe in a shower

3

: to wet with fine spray or drops

4

: to provide in great quantity

showered them with attention