DEMONSTRATIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does demonstrative mean? 

• DEMONSTRATIVE (noun)
  The noun DEMONSTRATIVE has 1 sense:

1. a pronoun that points out an intended referent

  Familiarity information: DEMONSTRATIVE used as a noun is very rare.

• DEMONSTRATIVE (adjective)
  The adjective DEMONSTRATIVE has 2 senses:

1. given to or marked by the open expression of emotion

2. serving to demonstrate

  Familiarity information: DEMONSTRATIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEMONSTRATIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A pronoun that points out an intended referent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

demonstrative; demonstrative pronoun

Hypernyms ("demonstrative" is a kind of...):

pronoun (a function word that is used in place of a noun or noun phrase)

Derivation:

demonstrative (serving to demonstrate)

• DEMONSTRATIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Given to or marked by the open expression of emotion

Context example:

an affectionate and demonstrative family

Similar:

effusive; gushing; gushy (extravagantly demonstrative)

epideictic; epideictical (designed primarily for rhetorical display)

Also:

unreserved (not cautious or reticent)

Antonym:

undemonstrative (not given to open expression of emotion)

Derivation:

demonstrativeness (tending to express your feelings freely)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Serving to demonstrate

Synonyms:

demonstrative; illustrative

Similar:

informative; instructive (serving to instruct or enlighten or inform)

Derivation:

demonstrate (establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment)

demonstrate (provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes)

demonstrative (a pronoun that points out an intended referent)

 Context examples 

Chance travellers might praise or pet him; but he was cold under it all, and from a too demonstrative man he would get up and walk away.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

White Fang had never been very demonstrative.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

As he saw that the very excess of his emotion was militating against him, by restoring us more to our old relations, he became still more demonstrative.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“You will restrain any demonstrative championship or vengeance in this place, of course, Mr. Copperfield?” said she, looking over her shoulder at me with the same expression.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Then the Professor thanked him so heartily, and looked so suddenly illuminated with satisfaction, that Laurie thought him the most delightfully demonstrative old fellow he ever met.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He was not demonstrative.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But White Fang was not demonstrative.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Nig, equally friendly, though less demonstrative, was a huge black dog, half bloodhound and half deerhound, with eyes that laughed and a boundless good nature.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

As the four sisters went home through the garden, Miss Kate looked after them, saying, without the patronizing tone in her voice, In spite of their demonstrative manners, American girls are very nice when one knows them.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

After which she gently chid her daughter Annie, for not being more demonstrative when such kindnesses were showered, for her sake, on her old playfellow; and entertained us with some particulars concerning other deserving members of her family, whom it was desirable to set on their deserving legs.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)