To show up means to arrive at a place or event, especially when you're expected or supposed to be there. When you show up for soccer practice, you arrive ready to play. When a friend shows up at your birthday party, they've come to celebrate with you.

The phrase carries extra meaning beyond just arriving. Showing up suggests you kept your commitment and didn't let people down. If half the class fails to show up for the field trip, the teacher might be disappointed because she was counting on them. When someone shows up despite difficult circumstances, like coming to help a friend move even though it's raining, it shows reliability and character.

People also use show up to mean performing well when it matters. A basketball player who shows up in the championship game plays their best when the team needs them most. In this sense, showing up means bringing your full effort and attention to an important moment.

Sometimes show up describes something appearing unexpectedly, like when a lost dog shows up at your door or an old photo shows up in a drawer you're cleaning. The phrase suggests something appearing when you weren't necessarily looking for it.