What does shower mean?
A shower can be a brief fall of rain, a device or enclosure for washing, or a social gathering connected with gifts, especially before a wedding. The everyday use in “take a shower” refers to washing briefly under running water, while weather reports use the word for a short, relatively heavy spell of rain. The same word also appears in expressions such as “a shower of gifts” or “a shower of applause,” where it means a large amount of something arriving or being given at once. Although the word can refer to a substantial amount of water, its everyday meanings are usually temporary and familiar rather than grand or dramatic. It is especially useful because it links an ordinary daily action, a common change in the weather, and the idea of abundance or celebration.
A brief fall of rain; a device or enclosure for washing under running water; an act of washing in this way; or a social gathering at which gifts are given.
"We took shelter under a tree while a brief shower passed over."
The social gift-giving sense is especially common in British English and is strongly associated with pre-wedding celebrations.
To wash oneself under running water, to give someone a large number of gifts, or to fall or be distributed in large quantities.
"The applause showered down on the performers."
“Shower someone with gifts” is idiomatic and usually positive, though it can also suggest that the recipient receives more than is practical or necessary.
The plural refers to multiple falls of rain, bathroom enclosures, washing events, or social gatherings.
"Showers were forecast throughout the weekend."
One word covers a passing rainstorm, a morning wash, and a guest list large enough to require a hall.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of shower
The word appears in Middle English in forms such as “shoure,” referring to a fall of rain, and its older development is associated with the Germanic vocabulary for storm or rain. Its precise remote origin is uncertain, so a more specific derivation would be speculative. The modern range of meanings, including washing and social gift-giving, developed through later usage in British English.
How shower is actually used
In British English, “shower” commonly refers both to the bathroom enclosure and to the act of washing; “shower” is also widely used for a pre-wedding gift gathering. In American English, “take a shower” is especially common for the act of washing. “Shower” in the sense of a gift gathering can sound informal or festive, while “shower someone with gifts” is often used figuratively for giving them abundant attention, praise, or opportunities.
Easily confused with shower
A shower is typically a brief fall of rain, whereas a drizzle consists of very light, fine rain that may last longer.
A shower is a fall of rain that is usually short and sudden, while a pour is a stronger or more sustained flow of liquid.