showed

Showed is the simple past tense of the verb show. It describes an action that was completed in the past and is used with a direct object, as in “She showed me her notes.” The corresponding past participle is shown, which appears in perfect tenses such as has shown or had shown. In standard English, the form has showed is generally considered nonstandard or incorrect in formal contexts.

Etymology and development: The verb show derives from Old English sceawian, meaning to look at or behold, and has long carried senses of displaying, presenting, or revealing information. Over time, its use broadened from visible display to presenting evidence, demonstrations, or explanations.

Usage notes: Show is transitive and takes a direct object (a thing or person being shown). It can mean to display a physical object, to demonstrate a process, or to provide evidence. In perfect tenses, the preferred form is shown: “The data have shown a trend.” The simple past uses showed: “The data showed a trend.” In some constructions and dialects, you may encounter has showed, but most style guides regard has shown as the standard form. The verb participates in common idioms such as show up, show off, or show someone the way.

Examples: The teacher showed students the correct method. The chart showed a steady decline in revenue. The researchers have shown that the intervention improved outcomes. The simple past tense is shown in “The chart showed significant gains,” while “has shown” is used for present relevance.