evidence
Americannoun
-
evidence
plural
-
that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.
-
something that makes plain or clear; an indication or sign.
His flushed look was visible evidence of his fever.
-
Law. data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects.
- Synonyms:
- affidavit, deposition, information
verb (used with object)
-
evidences,
present (3rd person singular)
-
evidenced,
past participle, past
-
evidencing
present participle
-
to make evident or clear; show clearly; manifest.
He evidenced his approval by promising his full support.
- Synonyms:
- demonstrate
-
to support by evidence.
He evidenced his accusation with incriminating letters.
idioms
noun
-
ground for belief or disbelief; data on which to base proof or to establish truth or falsehood
-
a mark or sign that makes evident; indication
his pallor was evidence of ill health
-
law matter produced before a court of law in an attempt to prove or disprove a point in issue, such as the statements of witnesses, documents, material objects, etc See also circumstantial evidence direct evidence
-
(of an accomplice) to act as witness for the prosecution and testify against those associated with him in crime
-
on display; apparent; conspicuous
her new ring was in evidence
verb
-
to make evident; show clearly
-
to give proof of or evidence for
Synonym Usage
Evidence, exhibit, testimony, proof refer to information furnished in a legal investigation to support a contention. Evidence is any information so given, whether furnished by witnesses or derived from documents or from any other source: Hearsay evidence is not admitted in a trial. An exhibit in law is a document or article that is presented in court as evidence: The signed contract is Exhibit A. Testimony is usually evidence given by witnesses under oath: The jury listened carefully to the testimony. Proof is evidence that is so complete and convincing as to put a conclusion beyond reasonable doubt: proof of the innocence of the accused.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
counterevidencenoun
-
preevidencenoun
-
superevidencenoun
-
reevidenceverb (used with object)
-
unevidencedadjective
-
well-evidencedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
evidencesimple
-
evidencessimple
-
have evidencedperfect
-
has evidencedperfect
-
am evidencingprogressive
-
are evidencingprogressive
-
is evidencingprogressive
-
have been evidencingperfect progressive
-
has been evidencingperfect progressive
Past
-
evidencedsimple
-
had evidencedperfect
-
was evidencingprogressive
-
were evidencingprogressive
-
had been evidencingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of evidence
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun from Middle French, from Latin ēvidentia; see evident, -ence
Explanation
Evidence is anything that can be used to prove something — like the evidence presented in a trial, or the trail of bread crumbs that is evidence of the path Hansel took through the woods. The word evidence is derived from the Latin ēvidēnt-, meaning "obvious." The word evidence shows up frequently in legal documents and dramas, because evidence is necessary proof in linking someone to a crime or crime scene. Evidence is used in many ways to show that something is true, as in "the chocolate stains around your mouth and the crumbs on the table are evidence that you ate the last of the brownies."
Vocabulary lists containing evidence
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Other evidence about mushroom images on a memory card in Patterson's home was wrongly excluded, the lawyer said in an appeal submission in November last year.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Now there is evidence that they could be missing out on hires with a secret superpower: speedy adaptability.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
The fact that so many of these baryons emerge perpendicular to the beamline provides strong evidence, according to the researchers, that the baryon junction exists and plays an important role in transporting baryon number.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
To go ahead with a change of use under the new rules, developers will need to provide evidence that there is no reasonable prospect of keeping a pub business running.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Here the evidence fades out for a time.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
![]()
"I think it evidences the fact that there is an ongoing threat in respect of dissident republican activity," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The “rush to seek death in this case evidences strong emotional reactions” by the Utah County Attorney’s Office and the prosecutor whose child attended Kirk’s talk, Robinson’s lawyers said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
Kamala Harris’s step-children calling her by an affectionate name that plays on the word “Mom”? This evidences a household that has all the love it needs — and all the humility.
From Salon ● Sep. 29, 2024
“We have obtained some evidences, even videos showing that the organizer had carried out ‘body checks’,” she added.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 15, 2023
I found it a large, handsome residence, showing abundant evidences of wealth in the proprietor.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
![]()
Ms Sturgeon is innocent, as evidenced by the fact that she was not charged, prosecuted nor convicted of any crime.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
This was evidenced at a recent antidiscrimination celebration held at the Nazi-era Tiergarten city hall in Berlin’s diverse Moabit district.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Micron’s sway is evidenced by the tech sector’s broader moves Thursday.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
A result even Bayer-Monsanto seemed to doubt was possible after oral arguments, as evidenced by the intensification of their fight on every other available front.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
This is evidenced by the customs and devices that were long retained by the Creeks.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
![]()
There are surely no memos to the file, emails, or letters to the client evidencing such advice in writing.
From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2023
This finding is backed by neuroimaging data, evidencing reduced connectivity between regions of the brain associated with self-awareness, pain and emotional processing.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2023
I am super proud that is evidencing itself today in our fulfillment margins and our gross margins, with all of these changes we made during what was the most difficult time we have ever had.
From The Verge ● Jul. 26, 2022
"Economic conditions are evidencing some signs of perhaps slowing somewhat down", said Mark Luschini, Chief Investment Strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott.
From Reuters ● Apr. 11, 2022
These victories of the Catholics, slight in themselves, were powerful as evidencing the direction of governmental policies.
From The War Upon Religion Being an Account of the Rise and Progress of Anti-christianism in Europe by Francis A. (Francis Aloysius) Cunningham
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.