prove

American  

[proov] / pruv /

verb (used with object)

proved, proved, proven, proving

1. to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument.

   to prove one's claim.

   Synonyms:

   verify, substantiate, confirm, demonstrate

   Antonyms:

   disprove

2. Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.

3. to give demonstration of by action.

4. to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc..

   to prove ore.

5. to show (oneself ) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.

6. Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.

7. Printing. Also to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).

8. to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.

9. Archaic. to experience.

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verb (used without object)

proved, proved, proven, proving

1. to turn out.

   The experiment proved to be successful.

2. to be found by trial or experience to be.

   His story proved false.

3. (of dough) to rise to a specified lightness.

   Leave covered until it has proved.

prove British  

/ pruːv /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to establish or demonstrate the truth or validity of; verify, esp by using an established sequence of procedures or statements

2. to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis

3. law to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)

4. to show (oneself) able or courageous

5. (copula) to be found or shown (to be)

   this has proved useless

   he proved to be invaluable

6. printing to take a trial impression of (type, etc)

7. (intr) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking

8. archaic to undergo

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prove Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing prove

• exception proves the rule

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Usage

Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove : Events have proved (or proven ) him wrong. As a modifier, proven is by far the more common: a proven fact.

Other Word Forms

• half-proved
  adjective
• half-proven
  adjective
• nonprovable
  adjective
• overprove
  verb (used with object)
• preprove
  verb (used with object)
• provability
  noun
• provable
  adjective
• provableness
  noun
• provably
  adverb
• provenly
  adverb
• prover
  noun
• self-proving
  adjective
• semiproven
  adjective
• unprovable
  adjective
• unproved
  adjective
• unproven
  adjective
• unproving
  adjective
• well-proved
  adjective
• well-proven
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of prove

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English proven, from Old French prover, from Latin probāre “to try, test, prove, approve,” derivative of probus “good.” See probity

Explanation

When you prove something, you show that it's true. If you say you love eating raw eggs, you may have to prove it by chugging a few. When someone asks you to prove something, you need evidence, also known as proof. Prove comes from the Latin root probare, "to test or prove worthy." The word’s meaning is clear in this quote from writer Ernest Holmes: "There was a time when a man was so convinced that the world was round that he was determined to prove it." As a transitive verb, prove requires an object to receive the action, as in "How can you prove your claim?" It can also be intransitive, as in "You might prove to be right."

Example Sentences

"We wanted to prove to the world that Liverpool could carry on without the amazing manager Klopp," said Robertson.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

“But my sister came here, my dad. I want to prove myself at this school.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

If those estimates prove correct, it would be the highest annual change since May 2023 for the PCE price index, and October 2023 for the core PCE.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw ruled that prosecutors’ explanations for why they had brought the charges were unsatisfying and that they had failed to prove they didn’t act vindictively in bringing the case.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The nurse knew I was lying, but there was no way for her to prove it.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Related Words

• confirm
• convince
• demonstrate
• determine
• explain
• find
• justify
• result
• show
• substantiate
• test
• try
• turn out
• validate
• verify