affirm
Americanverb (used with object)
-
affirms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
affirmed,
past participle, past
-
affirming
present participle
-
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)
-
affirms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
affirmed,
past participle, past
-
affirming
present participle
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
Synonym Usage
See declare.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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affirmernoun
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overaffirmverb
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preaffirmverb
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reaffirmverb (used with object)
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affirmableadjective
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affirmablyadverb
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affirminglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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affirmsimple
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affirmssimple
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have affirmedperfect
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has affirmedperfect
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am affirmingprogressive
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are affirmingprogressive
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is affirmingprogressive
-
have been affirmingperfect progressive
-
has been affirmingperfect progressive
Past
-
affirmedsimple
-
had affirmedperfect
-
was affirmingprogressive
-
were affirmingprogressive
-
had been affirmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of affirm
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” ( see firm 1); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin
Explanation
To affirm something is to give it a big "YES" or to confirm that it is true. The verb affirm means to answer positively, but it has a more weighty meaning in legal circles. People are asked to swear an oath or affirm that they will tell the truth in a court of law. Lawyers may ask people to affirm facts, and judges may affirm rulings. In these cases, affirm means to verify or attest to the validity of something.
Vocabulary lists containing affirm
Speech and Debate
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List 1
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"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
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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:
As I type, two studies and a clinical trial are ongoing to affirm how Shingrix may impact dementia, cardiovascular disorders, and major adverse cardiac events.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
This likely won’t mobilize them, as there’s no positive result they can expect to affirm.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
A decision based on a tie vote would affirm Boulder’s early stage victory but would not set a precedent that would govern other cases.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
The IRS could also maintain a database of individuals convicted or subjected to sanctions for their activity in the nonprofit sector and have nonprofits affirm that they don’t employ anyone on the list.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
“It is my duty, then, if nobody will answer, to affirm the Queen of England’s innocence.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
And beyond consenting to, that affirms that entitlement.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
Two months have since passed, and he’s still offered no explanation for his appearance, which incidentally only affirms suspicions.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
"It's absolutely brilliant," affirms Arsenal season ticket-holder Major.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
S&P affirms Indonesia’s BBB long-term sovereign credit rating, and expects the government to keep its fiscal deficit below the legal ceiling of 3% of GDP.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
At the same time the sacrament of the Mass affirms ‘the perpetual contemporaneity of The Passion’ and celebrates the ‘marriage of time present with time past’.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
The plenum also affirmed that the next party congress will take place in the second half of 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
Circuit Court of Appeals, but in April 2025, a divided three-judge panel affirmed the dismissal, agreeing with the district court that Salazar’s newsletter subscription didn’t make him a subscriber under the law.
From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026
“I am so interested in truth telling. I’m so desperate for it in the world. I’m so grateful when I find it in other people,” she affirmed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
"With several lives lost and many injured, the toll remains provisional. The minister offered condolences, affirmed solidarity with families, and ordered assessments of affected schools to ensure learning continuity."
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
That is what they have in common with the passive constructions that also bog down these examples, like was affirmed and were used.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
An image issued by Zardari's office showed his signature affirming the measures.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
The rumors got so hot that Sesame Workshop issued a statement reminding people they are puppets and affirming the duo are “best friends.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
Russ Kavalhuna, Western Michigan’s president, didn’t participate in the MAC appeal, but released his own statement affirming the conference’s move, calling it an “important action.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
He currently helms the “Yass, Jesus!” podcast, an interfaith and sexuality affirming comedy show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Briony studied her mother’s face for every trace of shifting emotion, and Emily Tallis obliged with looks of alarm, snickers of glee and, at the end, grateful smiles and wise, affirming nods.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
