Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Demonstrate has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
"She shows her dogs frequently"
"We will demo the new software in Washington"
establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment
"The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound"
"The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture"
provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
"His high fever attested to his illness"
"The buildings in Rome manifest a high level of architectural sophistication"
"This decision demonstrates his sense of fairness"
march in protest; take part in a demonstration
"Thousands demonstrated against globalization during the meeting of the most powerful economic nations in Seattle"
to show how to use (something).
"The instructor demonstrated how to use the new software by walking us through each step on the projector screen."
In plain English: To demonstrate means to show how something works by doing it yourself.
"She demonstrated how to tie her shoes for the new students."
Usage: Use demonstrate when you actively show someone how to operate or use something by performing the actions yourself. This often involves giving a practical example or live instruction rather than just explaining the steps verbally.
The word "demonstrate" was borrowed into English from the Latin dēmonstrātus, which originally meant to show or point something out. It entered our language through the influence of French, carrying its core meaning of displaying evidence clearly.