diff --git a/spec/editor-view-spec.coffee b/spec/editor-view-spec.coffee
index 2f428dddd..6ab18ccdf 100644
--- a/spec/editor-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/editor-view-spec.coffee
@@ -2756,7 +2756,7 @@ describe "EditorView", ->
         editorView = atom.workspaceView.getActiveView()
 
         view = $$ -> @div id: 'view', tabindex: -1, 'View'
-        editorView.getPane().showItem(view)
+        editorView.getPane().activateItem(view)
         expect(editorView.isVisible()).toBeFalsy()
 
         editorView.setText('hidden changes')
@@ -2764,7 +2764,7 @@ describe "EditorView", ->
 
         displayUpdatedHandler = jasmine.createSpy("displayUpdatedHandler")
         editorView.on 'editor:display-updated', displayUpdatedHandler
-        editorView.getPane().showItem(editorView.getModel())
+        editorView.getPane().activateItem(editorView.getModel())
         expect(editorView.isVisible()).toBeTruthy()
 
         waitsFor ->
diff --git a/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee
index b9cb64d7d..5fb759860 100644
--- a/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ describe "PaneContainer", ->
 
   describe ".saveAll()", ->
     it "saves all open pane items", ->
-      pane1.showItem(new TestView('4'))
+      pane1.activateItem(new TestView('4'))
 
       container.saveAll()
 
@@ -167,24 +167,24 @@ describe "PaneContainer", ->
 
     describe "when there is one pane", ->
       it "is triggered when a new pane item is added", ->
-        pane1.showItem(item1b)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1b)
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.callCount).toBe 1
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.argsForCall[0][1]).toEqual item1b
 
       it "is not triggered when the active pane item is shown again", ->
-        pane1.showItem(item1a)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1a)
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
 
       it "is triggered when switching to an existing pane item", ->
-        pane1.showItem(item1b)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1b)
         activeItemChangedHandler.reset()
 
-        pane1.showItem(item1a)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1a)
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.callCount).toBe 1
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.argsForCall[0][1]).toEqual item1a
 
       it "is triggered when the active pane item is destroyed", ->
-        pane1.showItem(item1b)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1b)
         activeItemChangedHandler.reset()
 
         pane1.destroyItem(item1b)
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ describe "PaneContainer", ->
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.argsForCall[0][1]).toEqual item1a
 
       it "is not triggered when an inactive pane item is destroyed", ->
-        pane1.showItem(item1b)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1b)
         activeItemChangedHandler.reset()
 
         pane1.destroyItem(item1a)
@@ -216,16 +216,16 @@ describe "PaneContainer", ->
         activeItemChangedHandler.reset()
 
       it "is triggered when a new pane item is added to the active pane", ->
-        pane2.showItem(item2b)
+        pane2.activateItem(item2b)
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.callCount).toBe 1
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.argsForCall[0][1]).toEqual item2b
 
       it "is not triggered when a new pane item is added to an inactive pane", ->
-        pane1.showItem(item1b)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1b)
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
 
       it "is triggered when the active pane's active item is destroyed", ->
-        pane2.showItem(item2b)
+        pane2.activateItem(item2b)
         activeItemChangedHandler.reset()
 
         pane2.destroyItem(item2b)
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ describe "PaneContainer", ->
         expect(activeItemChangedHandler.argsForCall[0][1]).toEqual item2a
 
       it "is not triggered when an inactive pane's active item is destroyed", ->
-        pane1.showItem(item1b)
+        pane1.activateItem(item1b)
         activeItemChangedHandler.reset()
 
         pane1.destroyItem(item1b)
diff --git a/spec/pane-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
index c24d10447..d1d031240 100644
--- a/spec/pane-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ describe "Pane", ->
     it "displays the first item in the pane", ->
       expect(pane.itemViews.find('#view-1')).toExist()
 
-  describe "::showItem(item)", ->
+  describe "::activateItem(item)", ->
     it "hides all item views except the one being shown and sets the activeItem", ->
       expect(pane.activeItem).toBe view1
-      pane.showItem(view2)
+      pane.activateItem(view2)
       expect(view1.css('display')).toBe 'none'
       expect(view2.css('display')).not.toBe 'none'
       expect(pane.activeItem).toBe view2
@@ -46,35 +46,35 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       container.on 'pane:active-item-changed', itemChangedHandler
 
       expect(pane.activeItem).toBe view1
-      pane.showItem(view2)
-      pane.showItem(view2)
+      pane.activateItem(view2)
+      pane.activateItem(view2)
       expect(itemChangedHandler.callCount).toBe 1
       expect(itemChangedHandler.argsForCall[0][1]).toBe view2
       itemChangedHandler.reset()
 
-      pane.showItem(editor1)
+      pane.activateItem(editor1)
       expect(itemChangedHandler).toHaveBeenCalled()
       expect(itemChangedHandler.argsForCall[0][1]).toBe editor1
       itemChangedHandler.reset()
 
-    describe "if the pane's active view is focused before calling showItem", ->
+    describe "if the pane's active view is focused before calling activateItem", ->
       it "focuses the new active view", ->
         container.attachToDom()
         pane.focus()
         expect(pane.activeView).not.toBe view2
         expect(pane.activeView).toMatchSelector ':focus'
-        pane.showItem(view2)
+        pane.activateItem(view2)
         expect(view2).toMatchSelector ':focus'
 
     describe "when the given item isn't yet in the items list on the pane", ->
       view3 = null
       beforeEach ->
         view3 = new TestView(id: 'view-3', text: "View 3")
-        pane.showItem(editor1)
+        pane.activateItem(editor1)
         expect(pane.getActiveItemIndex()).toBe 1
 
       it "adds it to the items list after the active item", ->
-        pane.showItem(view3)
+        pane.activateItem(view3)
         expect(pane.getItems()).toEqual [view1, editor1, view3, view2, editor2]
         expect(pane.activeItem).toBe view3
         expect(pane.getActiveItemIndex()).toBe 2
@@ -83,21 +83,21 @@ describe "Pane", ->
         events = []
         container.on 'pane:item-added', (e, item, index) -> events.push(['pane:item-added', item, index])
         container.on 'pane:active-item-changed', (e, item) -> events.push(['pane:active-item-changed', item])
-        pane.showItem(view3)
+        pane.activateItem(view3)
         expect(events).toEqual [['pane:item-added', view3, 2], ['pane:active-item-changed', view3]]
 
     describe "when showing a model item", ->
       describe "when no view has yet been appended for that item", ->
         it "appends and shows a view to display the item based on its `.getViewClass` method", ->
-          pane.showItem(editor1)
+          pane.activateItem(editor1)
           editorView = pane.activeView
           expect(editorView.css('display')).not.toBe 'none'
           expect(editorView.editor).toBe editor1
 
       describe "when a valid view has already been appended for another item", ->
         it "multiple views are created for multiple items", ->
-          pane.showItem(editor1)
-          pane.showItem(editor2)
+          pane.activateItem(editor1)
+          pane.activateItem(editor2)
           expect(pane.itemViews.find('.editor').length).toBe 2
           editorView = pane.activeView
           expect(editorView.css('display')).not.toBe 'none'
@@ -118,11 +118,11 @@ describe "Pane", ->
             serialize: -> {@id, @text}
             getViewClass: -> TestView
 
-          pane.showItem(model1)
-          pane.showItem(model2)
+          pane.activateItem(model1)
+          pane.activateItem(model2)
           expect(pane.itemViews.find('.test-view').length).toBe initialViewCount + 2
 
-          pane.showPreviousItem()
+          pane.activatePreviousItem()
           expect(pane.itemViews.find('.test-view').length).toBe initialViewCount + 2
 
           pane.destroyItem(model2)
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
     describe "when showing a view item", ->
       it "appends it to the itemViews div if it hasn't already been appended and shows it", ->
         expect(pane.itemViews.find('#view-2')).not.toExist()
-        pane.showItem(view2)
+        pane.activateItem(view2)
         expect(pane.itemViews.find('#view-2')).toExist()
         expect(pane.activeView).toBe view2
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       expect(pane.getItems()).toEqual [editor1, view2, editor2]
       expect(pane.activeItem).toBe editor1
 
-      pane.showItem(editor2)
+      pane.activateItem(editor2)
       pane.destroyItem(editor2)
       expect(pane.getItems()).toEqual [editor1, view2]
       expect(pane.activeItem).toBe editor1
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ describe "Pane", ->
 
     describe "when the item is a model", ->
       it "removes the associated view only when all items that require it have been removed", ->
-        pane.showItem(editor1)
-        pane.showItem(editor2)
+        pane.activateItem(editor1)
+        pane.activateItem(editor2)
         pane.destroyItem(editor2)
         expect(pane.itemViews.find('.editor')).toExist()
         pane.destroyItem(editor1)
@@ -300,12 +300,12 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       it "preserves data by detaching instead of removing", ->
         view1.data('preservative', 1234)
         pane.moveItemToPane(view1, pane2, 1)
-        pane2.showItemAtIndex(1)
+        pane2.activateItemAtIndex(1)
         expect(pane2.activeView.data('preservative')).toBe 1234
 
   describe "pane:close", ->
     it "destroys all items and removes the pane", ->
-      pane.showItem(editor1)
+      pane.activateItem(editor1)
       pane.trigger 'pane:close'
       expect(pane.hasParent()).toBeFalsy()
       expect(editor2.isDestroyed()).toBe true
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
 
   describe "pane:close-other-items", ->
     it "destroys all items except the current", ->
-      pane.showItem(editor1)
+      pane.activateItem(editor1)
       pane.trigger 'pane:close-other-items'
       expect(editor2.isDestroyed()).toBe true
       expect(pane.getItems()).toEqual [editor1]
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       describe "when the current item has a save method", ->
         it "saves the current item", ->
           spyOn(editor2, 'save')
-          pane.showItem(editor2)
+          pane.activateItem(editor2)
           pane.saveActiveItem()
           expect(editor2.save).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
         it "opens a save dialog and saves the current item as the selected path", ->
           newEditor = atom.project.openSync()
           spyOn(newEditor, 'saveAs')
-          pane.showItem(newEditor)
+          pane.activateItem(newEditor)
 
           pane.saveActiveItem()
 
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
     describe "when the current item has a saveAs method", ->
       it "opens the save dialog and calls saveAs on the item with the selected path", ->
         spyOn(editor2, 'saveAs')
-        pane.showItem(editor2)
+        pane.activateItem(editor2)
 
         pane.saveActiveItemAs()
 
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       expect(activeItemTitleChangedHandler).toHaveBeenCalled()
       activeItemTitleChangedHandler.reset()
 
-      pane.showItem(view2)
+      pane.activateItem(view2)
       view2.trigger 'title-changed'
       expect(activeItemTitleChangedHandler).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
     it "removes the pane item", ->
       filePath = temp.openSync('atom').path
       editor = atom.project.openSync(filePath)
-      pane.showItem(editor)
+      pane.activateItem(editor)
       expect(pane.items).toHaveLength(5)
 
       fs.removeSync(filePath)
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       [paneToLeft, paneToRight] = []
 
       beforeEach ->
-        pane.showItem(editor1)
+        pane.activateItem(editor1)
         paneToLeft = pane.splitLeft(pane.copyActiveItem())
         paneToRight = pane.splitRight(pane.copyActiveItem())
         container.attachToDom()
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
 
   describe "::getNextPane()", ->
     it "returns the next pane if one exists, wrapping around from the last pane to the first", ->
-      pane.showItem(editor1)
+      pane.activateItem(editor1)
       expect(pane.getNextPane()).toBeUndefined
       pane2 = pane.splitRight(pane.copyActiveItem())
       expect(pane.getNextPane()).toBe pane2
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
     [pane1, view3, view4] = []
     beforeEach ->
       pane1 = pane
-      pane.showItem(editor1)
+      pane.activateItem(editor1)
       view3 = new TestView(id: 'view-3', text: 'View 3')
       view4 = new TestView(id: 'view-4', text: 'View 4')
 
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       expect(newPane.getItems()).toEqual [view1, editor1, view2, editor2]
 
     it "restores the active item on deserialization", ->
-      pane.showItem(editor2)
+      pane.activateItem(editor2)
       newPane = pane.testSerialization()
       expect(newPane.activeItem).toEqual editor2
 
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       class Unserializable
         getViewClass: -> TestView
 
-      pane.showItem(new Unserializable)
+      pane.activateItem(new Unserializable)
 
       newPane = pane.testSerialization()
       expect(newPane.activeItem).toEqual pane.items[0]
diff --git a/spec/workspace-view-spec.coffee b/spec/workspace-view-spec.coffee
index 51625a590..a47854dae 100644
--- a/spec/workspace-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/workspace-view-spec.coffee
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@ describe "WorkspaceView", ->
         pane2 = pane1.splitRight()
         pane3 = pane2.splitRight()
         pane4 = pane2.splitDown()
-        pane2.showItem(atom.project.openSync('b'))
-        pane3.showItem(atom.project.openSync('../sample.js'))
+        pane2.activateItem(atom.project.openSync('b'))
+        pane3.activateItem(atom.project.openSync('../sample.js'))
         pane3.activeItem.setCursorScreenPosition([2, 4])
-        pane4.showItem(atom.project.openSync('../sample.txt'))
+        pane4.activateItem(atom.project.openSync('../sample.txt'))
         pane4.activeItem.setCursorScreenPosition([0, 2])
         pane2.focus()
 
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ describe "WorkspaceView", ->
     it "saves active editor until there are none", ->
       editor = atom.project.openSync('../sample.txt')
       spyOn(editor, 'save')
-      atom.workspaceView.getActivePane().showItem(editor)
+      atom.workspaceView.getActivePane().activateItem(editor)
       atom.workspaceView.trigger('core:save')
       expect(editor.save).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
@@ -581,6 +581,6 @@ describe "WorkspaceView", ->
     it "saves active editor until there are none", ->
       editor = atom.project.openSync('../sample.txt')
       spyOn(editor, 'saveAs')
-      atom.workspaceView.getActivePane().showItem(editor)
+      atom.workspaceView.getActivePane().activateItem(editor)
       atom.workspaceView.trigger('core:save-as')
       expect(editor.saveAs).toHaveBeenCalled()
diff --git a/src/pane-model.coffee b/src/pane-model.coffee
index 15db07345..66b231f85 100644
--- a/src/pane-model.coffee
+++ b/src/pane-model.coffee
@@ -90,31 +90,31 @@ class PaneModel extends Model
     @items[index]
 
   # Public: Makes the next item active.
-  showNextItem: ->
+  activateNextItem: ->
     index = @getActiveItemIndex()
     if index < @items.length - 1
-      @showItemAtIndex(index + 1)
+      @activateItemAtIndex(index + 1)
     else
-      @showItemAtIndex(0)
+      @activateItemAtIndex(0)
 
   # Public: Makes the previous item active.
-  showPreviousItem: ->
+  activatePreviousItem: ->
     index = @getActiveItemIndex()
     if index > 0
-      @showItemAtIndex(index - 1)
+      @activateItemAtIndex(index - 1)
     else
-      @showItemAtIndex(@items.length - 1)
+      @activateItemAtIndex(@items.length - 1)
 
   # Public: Returns the index of the current active item.
   getActiveItemIndex: ->
     @items.indexOf(@activeItem)
 
   # Public: Makes the item at the given index active.
-  showItemAtIndex: (index) ->
-    @showItem(@itemAtIndex(index))
+  activateItemAtIndex: (index) ->
+    @activateItem(@itemAtIndex(index))
 
   # Public: Makes the given item active, adding the item if necessary.
-  showItem: (item) ->
+  activateItem: (item) ->
     if item?
       @addItem(item)
       @activeItem = item
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class PaneModel extends Model
   removeItem: (item, destroying) ->
     index = @items.indexOf(item)
     return if index is -1
-    @showNextItem() if item is @activeItem and @items.length > 1
+    @activateNextItem() if item is @activeItem and @items.length > 1
     @items.splice(index, 1)
     @emit 'item-removed', item, index, destroying
     @destroy() if @items.length is 0
@@ -246,9 +246,9 @@ class PaneModel extends Model
 
   # Public: Activates the first item that matches the given URI. Returns a
   # boolean indicating whether a matching item was found.
-  showItemForUri: (uri) ->
+  activateItemForUri: (uri) ->
     if item = @itemForUri(uri)
-      @showItem(item)
+      @activateItem(item)
       true
     else
       false
diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index b52329127..0385bcf23 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ class Pane extends View
       @div class: 'item-views', outlet: 'itemViews'
 
   @delegatesProperties 'items', 'activeItem', toProperty: 'model'
-  @delegatesMethods 'getItems', 'showNextItem', 'showPreviousItem', 'getActiveItemIndex',
-    'showItemAtIndex', 'showItem', 'addItem', 'itemAtIndex', 'moveItem', 'moveItemToPane',
+  @delegatesMethods 'getItems', 'activateNextItem', 'activatePreviousItem', 'getActiveItemIndex',
+    'activateItemAtIndex', 'activateItem', 'addItem', 'itemAtIndex', 'moveItem', 'moveItemToPane',
     'destroyItem', 'destroyItems', 'destroyActiveItem', 'destroyInactiveItems',
     'saveActiveItem', 'saveActiveItemAs', 'saveItem', 'saveItemAs', 'saveItems',
-    'itemForUri', 'showItemForUri', 'promptToSaveItem', 'copyActiveItem', 'isActive',
+    'itemForUri', 'activateItemForUri', 'promptToSaveItem', 'copyActiveItem', 'isActive',
     'activate', toProperty: 'model'
 
   previousActiveItem: null
@@ -65,18 +65,18 @@ class Pane extends View
       false
 
     @command 'pane:save-items', => @saveItems()
-    @command 'pane:show-next-item', => @showNextItem()
-    @command 'pane:show-previous-item', => @showPreviousItem()
+    @command 'pane:show-next-item', => @activateNextItem()
+    @command 'pane:show-previous-item', => @activatePreviousItem()
 
-    @command 'pane:show-item-1', => @showItemAtIndex(0)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-2', => @showItemAtIndex(1)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-3', => @showItemAtIndex(2)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-4', => @showItemAtIndex(3)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-5', => @showItemAtIndex(4)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-6', => @showItemAtIndex(5)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-7', => @showItemAtIndex(6)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-8', => @showItemAtIndex(7)
-    @command 'pane:show-item-9', => @showItemAtIndex(8)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-1', => @activateItemAtIndex(0)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-2', => @activateItemAtIndex(1)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-3', => @activateItemAtIndex(2)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-4', => @activateItemAtIndex(3)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-5', => @activateItemAtIndex(4)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-6', => @activateItemAtIndex(5)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-7', => @activateItemAtIndex(6)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-8', => @activateItemAtIndex(7)
+    @command 'pane:show-item-9', => @activateItemAtIndex(8)
 
     @command 'pane:split-left', => @splitLeft(@copyActiveItem())
     @command 'pane:split-right', => @splitRight(@copyActiveItem())
@@ -92,6 +92,21 @@ class Pane extends View
   serializeParams: ->
     model: @model.serialize()
 
+  # Deprecated: Use ::activateItem
+  showItem: (item) -> @activateItem(item)
+
+  # Deprecated: Use ::activateItemForUri
+  showItemForUri: (item) -> @activateItemForUri(item)
+
+  # Deprecated: Use ::activateItemAtIndex
+  showItemAtIndex: (index) -> @activateItemAtIndex(index)
+
+  # Deprecated: Use ::activateNextItem
+  showNextItem: -> @activateNextItem()
+
+  # Deprecated: Use ::activatePreviousItem
+  showPreviousItem: -> @activatePreviousItem()
+
   # Private:
   afterAttach: (onDom) ->
     @focus() if @model.focused and onDom
diff --git a/src/workspace-view.coffee b/src/workspace-view.coffee
index daac10423..cd5075784 100644
--- a/src/workspace-view.coffee
+++ b/src/workspace-view.coffee
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class WorkspaceView extends View
           @panes.setRoot(activePane)
 
         @itemOpened(editor)
-        activePane.showItem(editor)
+        activePane.activateItem(editor)
         activePane.activate() if changeFocus
         @trigger "uri-opened"
         editor
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class WorkspaceView extends View
       else if split == 'left'
         pane = @getPanes()[0]
 
-      pane.showItem(paneItem)
+      pane.activateItem(paneItem)
     else
       paneItem = atom.project.openSync(uri, {initialLine})
       pane = new Pane(paneItem)
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class WorkspaceView extends View
 
     if pane
       paneItem = pane.itemForUri(uri)
-      pane.showItem(paneItem)
+      pane.activateItem(paneItem)
       pane.activate() if changeFocus
       paneItem
     else