evidence
Americannoun
-
evidence
plural
-
that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.
-
something that makes plain or clear; an indication or sign.
His flushed look was visible evidence of his fever.
-
Law. data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects.
- Synonyms:
- affidavit, deposition, information
verb (used with object)
-
evidences,
present (3rd person singular)
-
evidenced,
past participle, past
-
evidencing
present participle
-
to make evident or clear; show clearly; manifest.
He evidenced his approval by promising his full support.
- Synonyms:
- demonstrate
-
to support by evidence.
He evidenced his accusation with incriminating letters.
idioms
noun
-
ground for belief or disbelief; data on which to base proof or to establish truth or falsehood
-
a mark or sign that makes evident; indication
his pallor was evidence of ill health
-
law matter produced before a court of law in an attempt to prove or disprove a point in issue, such as the statements of witnesses, documents, material objects, etc See also circumstantial evidence direct evidence
-
(of an accomplice) to act as witness for the prosecution and testify against those associated with him in crime
-
on display; apparent; conspicuous
her new ring was in evidence
verb
-
to make evident; show clearly
-
to give proof of or evidence for
Synonym Usage
Evidence, exhibit, testimony, proof refer to information furnished in a legal investigation to support a contention. Evidence is any information so given, whether furnished by witnesses or derived from documents or from any other source: Hearsay evidence is not admitted in a trial. An exhibit in law is a document or article that is presented in court as evidence: The signed contract is Exhibit A. Testimony is usually evidence given by witnesses under oath: The jury listened carefully to the testimony. Proof is evidence that is so complete and convincing as to put a conclusion beyond reasonable doubt: proof of the innocence of the accused.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
counterevidencenoun
-
preevidencenoun
-
superevidencenoun
-
reevidenceverb (used with object)
-
unevidencedadjective
-
well-evidencedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
evidencesimple
-
evidencessimple
-
have evidencedperfect
-
has evidencedperfect
-
am evidencingprogressive
-
are evidencingprogressive
-
is evidencingprogressive
-
have been evidencingperfect progressive
-
has been evidencingperfect progressive
Past
-
evidencedsimple
-
had evidencedperfect
-
was evidencingprogressive
-
were evidencingprogressive
-
had been evidencingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of evidence
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun from Middle French, from Latin ēvidentia; see evident, -ence
Explanation
Evidence is anything that can be used to prove something — like the evidence presented in a trial, or the trail of bread crumbs that is evidence of the path Hansel took through the woods. The word evidence is derived from the Latin ēvidēnt-, meaning "obvious." The word evidence shows up frequently in legal documents and dramas, because evidence is necessary proof in linking someone to a crime or crime scene. Evidence is used in many ways to show that something is true, as in "the chocolate stains around your mouth and the crumbs on the table are evidence that you ate the last of the brownies."
Vocabulary lists containing evidence
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Her statements always seemed misaligned with the evidence, as if she were so convinced of her company’s virtue that she didn’t care about the eerie dissonance between her reality and the world’s.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
By examining human brain tissue and conducting experiments in mice, researchers found evidence that problems with these normally supportive cells can damage nerve fibers and interfere with cognitive function.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
The committee could call forward witnesses, such as current Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig, to give evidence as part of the inquiry.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
There was also speculation that Jackson’s death was linked to an organized crime group, but there hasn’t been any evidence so far to support that, he added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Further evidence led to the conclusion that this captain/tinkerer/merchant would probably travel around the coasts and islands taking orders for tools and weapons.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
"I think it evidences the fact that there is an ongoing threat in respect of dissident republican activity," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The “rush to seek death in this case evidences strong emotional reactions” by the Utah County Attorney’s Office and the prosecutor whose child attended Kirk’s talk, Robinson’s lawyers said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
So the bias that exists just really means that we have to be very careful in taking small steps to show evidences.
From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2025
“We as a nation have given numerous historical evidences for sheltering and rescuing Jewish people,” Ceku told The Associated Press.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2022
I went without a lot of sleep trying to merit his increasing evidences of trust and confidence in my efforts to help build our Nation of Islam.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
The city is sick, as evidenced in photos of barren studio lots, burning trees and the boarded-up Cinerama Dome.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Recent comments from company executives suggest the AI demand is moving from theoretical to evidenced, according to RBC.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
It was picked up across online media, and discussed at length on radio talk shows - including across the BBC, as evidenced by this piece.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
The way they do everything, of course, as evidenced by the siblings’ meeting in their mother’s garage, attempting to resolve their seemingly irreconcilable differences about their mother’s fate and their parts in it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
That they had made a tidy profit was evidenced by the size of their house, which stood apart from the rest of the village.
From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson
"Our far-reaching theory encompasses all systems evidencing such transverse interactions. Conceivable applications range from colloid research to biology," declares co-author Dr. Michael te Vrugt, Assistant Professor at the University of Mainz.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2025
When negligence is particularly egregious—either so preventable or evidencing such disregard for the safety of the people affected—it becomes a criminal wrong.
From Slate ● Jan. 27, 2023
I am super proud that is evidencing itself today in our fulfillment margins and our gross margins, with all of these changes we made during what was the most difficult time we have ever had.
From The Verge ● Jul. 26, 2022
A 120-Hz flicker is too rapid for your eyes to detect, but if you wave your hand back and forth between your face and a fluorescent light, you will see a stroboscopic effect evidencing AC.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
She had had her share of trials, and yet was both young and good-looking; her good looks in no wise evidencing the vestiges of any sorrow.
From One Of Them by Charles James Lever
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
