These words refer to the revealing, demonstrating or making clear of something. Show is the most informal and general of these, with an extremely wide range of possible uses: showing her teeth when she smiled; showing off his new ability on the high diving board. The word is particularly useful to indicate acts that communicate an attitude or result in a visible or unmistakable sign: showing enthusiasm for the sketches; a gift chosen to show how much she cared for him.

Evince and manifest are the most formal of these words and are both restricted in use to suggest the giving of a sign. Evince may point to a subtle or slight exposure or to something that shows itself in a rudimentary or initial state: first evincing a grudging interest in the work project and finally becoming absorbed in it; her cool manner evincing a restrained dislike for their new friend; a flair for colour and form that first evince itself in primary school. Manifest indicates a much more clear-cut or unmistakable revealing; unlike evince , it would suggest something that requires no investigation but is plainly evident to anyone: a hunger that manifested itself in strange ways; a country manifesting an unbelievable luxuriance of flora and fauna.

Display and exhibit both emphasize an exposure such as results form deliberately putting something on full view. Display may suggest a painfully obvious exposure or a flaunting one: displaying his drunkenness openly on the street; surfboard riders arrogantly displaying their tanned physiques. Exhibit may stress instead a more matter-of-fact tone, suggesting that something is almost clinically put on view for consideration or evaluation: exhibiting the murder weapon to the jury; a gallery exhibiting a new painter’s work. Both words can function less specifically as more formal substitutes for show : displaying , by a sign, a readiness to go away with him; exhibiting a slight nervousness as he read the statement.