affirm
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to state or assert positively; maintain as true.
to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.
- Synonyms:
- testify, depose, asseverate, aver
- Antonyms:
- deny
-
to confirm or ratify.
The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.
-
to assert solemnly.
He affirmed his innocence.
-
to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support.
to affirm human rights.
-
to support (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement.
She described the unhappy memory of her father, who had neither disciplined nor affirmed her.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
(may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
-
to uphold, confirm, or ratify
-
(intr) law to make an affirmation
Related Words
See declare.
Other Word Forms
- affirmable adjective
- affirmably adverb
- affirmer noun
- affirmingly adverb
- overaffirm verb
- preaffirm verb
- reaffirm verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of affirm
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” ( firm 1 ); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin
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.
On most other issues, the Vietnamese government actively works to contain anti-China sentiment, but criticism affirming Hanoi's claims in the South China Sea is one of very few forms of protest it deems acceptable.
From BBC
"We categorically affirm that these claims are entirely false," he said.
From Barron's
“The Oscar not only honors the excellence of the individual and their team, but also affirms the art of casting as a vital cinematic craft.”
From Los Angeles Times
"I had a wonderful letter from an ordained woman who said the announcement of my appointment was the first time that she felt affirmed as a priest," she told BBC Radio 4.
From BBC
“While today’s ruling adopts a narrower constitutional framework than Dueñas, it affirms a core principle our work helped advance: Courts must consider a person’s inability to pay before imposing certain court assessments,” Eidmann said.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions 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.
