establish

[ ih-stab-lish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis:

   to establish a university; to establish a medical practice.

   Synonyms: organize, form

   Antonyms: abolish

2. to install or settle in a position, place, business, etc.:

   to establish one's child in business.

3. to show to be valid or true; prove:

   to establish the facts of the matter.

   Synonyms: substantiate, verify

   Antonyms: disprove

4. to cause to be accepted or recognized:

   to establish a custom; She established herself as a leading surgeon.

5. to bring about permanently:

   to establish order.

6. to enact, appoint, or ordain for permanence, as a law; fix unalterably.

   Synonyms: decree

7. to make (a church) a national or state institution.
8. Cards. to obtain control of (a suit) so that one can win all the subsequent tricks in it.

establish

/ ɪˈstæblɪʃ /

verb

1. to make secure or permanent in a certain place, condition, job, etc

   to establish one's usefulness

   to establish a house

2. to create or set up (an organization, etc) on or as if on a permanent basis

   to establish a company

3. to prove correct or free from doubt; validate

   to establish a fact

4. to cause (a principle, theory, etc) to be widely or permanently accepted

   to establish a precedent

5. to give (a Church) the status of a national institution
6. (of a person) to become recognized and accepted

   he established himself as a reliable GP

7. (in works of imagination) to cause (a character, place, etc) to be credible and recognized

   the first scene established the period

8. cards to make winners of (the remaining cards of a suit) by forcing out opponents' top cards
9. also intr botany
   1. to cause (a plant) to grow or (of a plant) to grow in a new place

      the birch scrub has established over the past 25 years

   2. to become or cause to become a sapling or adult plant from a seedling

Derived Forms

• esˈtablisher, noun

Other Words From

• es·tab·lish·a·ble adjective
• es·tab·lish·er noun
• re·es·tab·lish verb (used with object)
• su·per·es·tab·lish verb (used with object)
• un·es·tab·lish·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of establish¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English establissen, establishen, from Middle French establiss-, extended stem of establir, from Latin stabilīre, derivative of stabilis stable ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of establish¹

C14: from Old French establir, from Latin stabilīre to make firm, from stabilis stable ²

Synonym Study

See fix.

Example Sentences

Together, they developed a roadmap to establish plant resilience research as a cornerstone of global climate change solutions.

From Science Daily

Bessent has talked about tariffs as a negotiating tool, and more recently argued for targeted tariff increases on national security grounds as well as to establish a more level playing field.

From Los Angeles Times

According to the New York Times, when the justices decided to establish their own code of conduct last year, Gorsuch was a chief antagonist of the project.

From Slate

McAfee said he flew out to meet with raw milk dairy producers and helped them establish standards that incorporated training, testing and quality control.

From Los Angeles Times

The Packers will try to establish the run.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• authorize
• base
• build
• create
• enact
• form
• found
• inaugurate
• install
• institute
• provide
• put
• settle
• start