prove
verb (used with object)
to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument.
had proved
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past perfectof prove.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Economists said the surprise move by the US government had proved short-lived, with ongoing concerns over the level of borrowing as national debt passed $40tn.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Mr. Lipscomb, who had proved the telegenic potential of gambling, thought legalization of sports betting was coming and urged Mr. Silver to flip the NBA’s oppositional stance and reap “a multi-billion-dollar windfall.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
But nobody had proved the general case – or found an example showing the conjecture was wrong.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026
Burke had proved himself a capable reserve outfielder who was popular with his teammates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026
The thousand times that he had proved it meant nothing.
From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway
