prove

American  

[proov] / pruv /

verb (used with object)

proved, proved, proven, proving

1. to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument.

   to prove one's claim.

   Synonyms:

   verify, substantiate, confirm, demonstrate

   Antonyms:

   disprove

2. Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.

3. to give demonstration of by action.

4. to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc..

   to prove ore.

5. to show (oneself ) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.

6. Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.

7. Printing. Also to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).

8. to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.

9. Archaic. to experience.

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verb (used without object)

proved, proved, proven, proving

1. to turn out.

   The experiment proved to be successful.

2. to be found by trial or experience to be.

   His story proved false.

3. (of dough) to rise to a specified lightness.

   Leave covered until it has proved.

prove British  

/ pruːv /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to establish or demonstrate the truth or validity of; verify, esp by using an established sequence of procedures or statements

2. to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis

3. law to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)

4. to show (oneself) able or courageous

5. (copula) to be found or shown (to be)

   this has proved useless

   he proved to be invaluable

6. printing to take a trial impression of (type, etc)

7. (intr) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking

8. archaic to undergo

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prove Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing prove

• exception proves the rule

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Usage

Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove : Events have proved (or proven ) him wrong. As a modifier, proven is by far the more common: a proven fact.

Other Word Forms

• half-proved
  adjective
• half-proven
  adjective
• nonprovable
  adjective
• overprove
  verb (used with object)
• preprove
  verb (used with object)
• provability
  noun
• provable
  adjective
• provableness
  noun
• provably
  adverb
• provenly
  adverb
• prover
  noun
• self-proving
  adjective
• semiproven
  adjective
• unprovable
  adjective
• unproved
  adjective
• unproven
  adjective
• unproving
  adjective
• well-proved
  adjective
• well-proven
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of prove

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English proven, from Old French prover, from Latin probāre “to try, test, prove, approve,” derivative of probus “good.” See probity

Explanation

When you prove something, you show that it's true. If you say you love eating raw eggs, you may have to prove it by chugging a few. When someone asks you to prove something, you need evidence, also known as proof. Prove comes from the Latin root probare, "to test or prove worthy." The word’s meaning is clear in this quote from writer Ernest Holmes: "There was a time when a man was so convinced that the world was round that he was determined to prove it." As a transitive verb, prove requires an object to receive the action, as in "How can you prove your claim?" It can also be intransitive, as in "You might prove to be right."

Example Sentences

Appeared in the March 5, 2026, print edition as 'Underground ‘Missile Cities’ Prove Vulnerable Spot for Tehran Regime'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Jurado swirled around a Rooibos tea bag with a tag read, “Your Actions Prove Your Greatness.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2024

“It’s absolutely a life disruption event when you mail a check and it’s been intercepted,” says Mary Ann Miller, fraud and cybercrime executive advisor and vice president of client experience at consumer identity company Prove.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 11, 2023

You, the good skeptic that you are, say, “Oh yeah? Prove it.”

From Scientific American • Jul. 1, 2023

“Prove it, Eli! Prove that you still love me. Let me try it on.”

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• confirm
• convince
• demonstrate
• determine
• explain
• find
• justify
• result
• show
• substantiate
• test
• try
• turn out
• validate
• verify