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

Other Word Forms

• establishable adjective
• establisher noun
• reestablish verb (used with object)
• superestablish verb (used with object)
• unestablishable 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

Former secretary of state Baroness Nicky Morgan told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it had been a "long battle" to see such measures established.

Read more on BBC

Because you lack any paperwork, establishing the correct basis is challenging.

Read more on MarketWatch

Therrien’s generic chapel stands not for any particular denomination or specific religious creed, but simply for the common reality of established doctrine operating throughout daily life.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Since 2016, the island of Yonaguni has hosted a base for Japan's army, the Self-Defense Forces, which was established despite initial objections from residents.

Read more on Barron's

While China’s largest automaker is continuing its streak of logging higher sales, absolute sales remain far below those of established domestic carmakers like Germany’s Volkswagen or Stellantis, the owner of the Jeep and Dodge brands.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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