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Definition of showdown

showdown

/ˈʃoʊ.daʊn/
show · down
Plural:showdowns
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showdown Lexical Profile

showdown Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A final test, confrontation, or decisive contest meant to settle a dispute or determine a winner.

Example

"The two rival teams are preparing for a championship showdown this Saturday."

2

In poker and similar card games, the final phase of a hand in which the remaining players lay their cards face up on the table to determine who holds the winning hand.

Example

"After the final round of betting, the two remaining players went to a showdown, and her full house beat his flush."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for showdown

• Nearby Words

showbox
showbusiness
showcase
showdown
shower
showerhead
showerless

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in late 19th-century American English from the game of poker, referring to the moment when players lay their cards face up on the table ("show down") to determine the winner.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Showdown. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/showdown
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