Papers taken up and spread out for show (7)
I believe the answer is:
display
'for show' is the definition.
(display can mean to show or expose)
'papers taken up and spread out' is the wordplay.
'papers' becomes 'ID' (identification papers).
'taken up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'spread out' becomes 'splay' (synonyms).
'id' in reverse letter order is 'di'.
'di'+'splay'='DISPLAY'
(Other definitions for display that I've seen before include "Put on view" , "Demonstrate, show" , "Show or arrange" , "Exhibition" , "Showcase" .)