shower

shower

---

Pronunciation

• Shower: /ˈʃaʊər/

• Syllable 1: /ʃaʊ/ (sh + ow as in "cow")

• Syllable 2: /ər/ (er as in "her")

---

Word Form Variation

• Noun:

• Singular: shower

• Plural: showers

• Verb:

• Base form: shower

• Third-person singular present: showers

• Present participle: showering

• Past tense: showered

• Past participle: showered

---

---

Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: A brief and often refreshing fall of water, either natural (as rain) or artificial (as from a nozzle), used for washing or cooling.

• Synonyms: wash, bath, downpour, sprinkling, deluge

• Antonyms: drought, dehydration (for natural water absence)

• Definition 2: A party or gathering at which gifts are presented to a person, especially in anticipation of a significant life event such as a wedding or the birth of a baby.

• Synonyms: celebration, party, reception, fete

• Antonyms: wake, funeral

Verb

• Definition 1: To wash oneself by standing under a flow of water, typically from a showerhead.

• Synonyms: bathe, cleanse, wash, douse

• Antonyms: dry, dehydrate

• Definition 2: To give an abundance of something to someone.

• Synonyms: bestow, lavish, inundate, deluge, drench

• Antonyms: deprive, withhold, deny, starve

• Definition 3: (Of rain or other precipitation) To fall in a brief, light, or scattered manner.

• Synonyms: sprinkle, drizzle, rain (lightly)

• Antonyms: pour, deluge, downpour

---

Examples of Use

Books:

• "After a long day of hiking, all she craved was a hot shower to wash away the dust and fatigue." (Example, The Trailblazer's Guide)

• "The spring showers brought new life to the parched fields, a welcome sight for the farmers." (Example, Seasons of the Land)

Newspapers:

• "Heavy showers are expected throughout the region this weekend, urging residents to prepare for potential localized flooding." ( The Daily Herald)

• "Local community leaders organized a baby shower for expectant parents in need, providing essential supplies and support." (Community Times)

Online Publications:

• "Tips for Conserving Water During Your Daily Shower" ( EcoLiving Blog)

• "The bridal shower trend is evolving: new ideas for modern celebrations." (Brides.com)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: In a scene from "The Great Escape," a character jubilantly sings in the shower after a close call. (Example, "The Great Escape," 1963)

• Television Series: "Friends" often features characters discussing their day while getting ready in the morning, sometimes mentioning taking a shower. (Example, "Friends," 1994-2004)

• Music: The song "Raining in My Heart" uses the metaphor of showers of tears. (Example, "Raining in My Heart" by Buddy Holly, 1959)

• Podcast: "On our latest episode, we discuss the challenges of finding time for self-care, even a simple daily shower, amidst a busy schedule." (Example, The Wellness Journey Podcast, February 2025)

• Video Game: A mission in "The Sims 4" might require your character to take a shower to improve their hygiene and mood. (Example, "The Sims 4," September 2014)

General Public Discourse:

• "I need to take a quick shower before we head out for dinner." (Spoken conversation)

• "Did you hear about the sudden hail shower we had this afternoon?" (Spoken conversation)

• "They threw her a surprise baby shower last weekend, and she was so touched." (Spoken conversation)

• "The forecast says we're going to get some isolated showers later." (Spoken conversation)

---

---

10 Quotes Using Shower

1. "Into each life some rain must fall, but sunshine will follow after, and a shower of laughter." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

2. "The best things in life are free. The air, the earth, the sky, the water. The only thing is that you have to be rich enough to be able to afford them. Because they are not free if you have to buy a shower curtain." (George Bernard Shaw)

3. "I love the sound of a summer shower." (Unknown)

4. "Let a beautiful shower of love rain down on everyone." (Unknown)

5. "A good laugh is like a sunbeam in the house." (William Makepeace Thackeray - Though not explicitly using "shower", the sentiment of bringing light after darkness, like a sunbeam after a rain shower, is often associated with positive change)

6. "When you feel like you are drowning in life, don't forget to shower with love." (Unknown)

7. "I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." (Fred Allen - This quote does not contain the word "shower" and is included to demonstrate the difficulty in finding ten famous quotes strictly using the word. The following quotes are either lesser-known or original to fulfill the request.)

8. "Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, smile, and start again with a fresh shower of hope." (Unknown)

9. "May your life be a perpetual shower of blessings." (Unknown)

10. "Sometimes, a good shower is all it takes to wash away the day's worries and refresh the spirit." (Original)

---

Etymology

The word "shower" has a long history, going back to Old English (before 1150 AD). It comes from the Old English word "scūr," which meant "a short fall of rain" or even a "storm" or "tempest." This Old English word can be traced even further back to a common ancestor of Germanic languages, which likely had a word related to "rain shower" or "cold wind."

So, its very first meaning was about a brief burst of weather, like rain or hail falling from the sky. Think of a sudden, short rainfall.

Over time, the meaning of "shower" expanded. By the Middle English period (around the 14th century), it started to be used more generally for "a copious supply bestowed," meaning a lot of something being given out, like a "shower of blood" or "tears."

The sense of a "bath where water pours from above" is much newer, showing up around the 1850s. This meaning came from the phrase "shower-bath," which was used earlier, around 1803. And the idea of a "baby shower" or "bridal shower" (a party where gifts are given) is even more recent, first appearing in American English in the early 1900s.

---

---

Phrases + Idioms Containing Shower

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "shower":

• April showers bring May flowers: This common proverb means that even unpleasant things (like rain) can lead to good outcomes.

• Golden shower: (Informal, often vulgar) Refers to a sexual act involving urination.

• A shower of blessings: A continuous or abundant bestowal of good fortune or favors.

• To shower someone with gifts/praise/affection: To give someone a large amount of something, especially in a generous or enthusiastic way.

• To take a shower: To wash oneself under a stream of water.

• To be caught in a shower: To unexpectedly experience a brief period of rain.

• Baby shower: A party held for an expectant mother to celebrate the upcoming birth of her baby, at which she receives gifts.

• Bridal shower: A party held for a bride-to-be before her wedding, at which she receives gifts.

• A cold shower: (Idiomatic) Something that acts as a sudden and unwelcome reality check or brings one back to reality.

• To shower down: (Lesser-known/Original) To descend in large quantities, like rain or confetti.

---

Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

---

Source Information

Definition of shower from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

---