bear witness

[bair wit-nis]

idiom

1. to serve as evidence that something is true or real.

   Not everyone’s sobriety can bear witness to the effectiveness of rehab, but in her case it most certainly can.

2. to proclaim or demonstrate a devout belief in.

   Who will join me in bearing witness to our Lord?

3. to testify; give or afford evidence, as in a court of law.

   When the case went to trial, he reluctantly agreed to bear witness against his neighbor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bear witness¹

First recorded in 1300–50

Example Sentences

"But when it comes to Gaza the job of reporting falls solely to Palestinian journalists, who are paying a terrible cost, leaving fewer to bear witness."

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Simultaneously, “Brownsville Bred” bears witness to what she overcame to accomplish this feat.

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She’s bearing witness to a human dilemma our culture would prefer to keep under wraps, but Ortega might just as easily be doing an audio essay or podcast.

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The image — snapped by Edward Burtynsky, an artist who has spent four decades dedicated to “bearing witness to the impact of human industry on the planet” — reads like a parade of corporate logos.

Read more on Salon

“When humble people are attacked,” he said, “we are here to bear witness.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times