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

By 19:50 police had two men in custody, 32-year-old Anthony Williams, and a 35-year-old man who was released a day later after police established he was not involved.

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The force added no arrests had been made and inquiries were still ongoing to establish the breed of dog involved.

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It also establishes the primary thematic premise of how time serves the dual personalities of a real and a writing life.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Teams will need to shop wisely, digesting medical reports on established players coming back from injuries and deciphering scouting reports on another handful of talented players from Japan.

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Despots, knowing this, endeavor to do everything in their power to shut down our ability to think outside of their established narratives.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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