prove

[ proov ]

See synonyms for: prove proved proven proves on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument: to prove one's claim.
Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.

to give demonstration of by action.
to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.: to prove ore.
to show (oneself) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.
Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
Also proof. Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
Archaic. to experience.

verb (used without object),proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

to turn out: The experiment proved to be successful.
to be found by trial or experience to be: His story proved false.

(of dough) to rise to a specified lightness: Leave covered until it has proved.

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

usage note For prove

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.

word story For prove

The idiom “The exception proves the rule” comes direct from the Roman statesman, lawyer, orator, and man of letters Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 b.c.) in a speech he wrote and delivered, Pro Balbo, in 56 b.c., as defense counsel for Lucius Cornelius Balbo Major (“Senior”). The full Latin sentence is exceptiō probat rēgulam in cāsibus non exceptīs “The exception tests the rule in cases that are not excepted,” which makes clear the implied existence of a general rule: for example, “No parking on Saturdays and Sundays” implies that parking is allowed the other five days of the week. Most often, however, the amputated sentence “The exception proves the rule” allows the meaning to be “The exception validates the rule.”

Other words for prove

1	demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify

See synonyms for prove on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for prove

disprove

See antonyms for prove on Thesaurus.com

Other words from prove

prov·a·ble, adjective
prov·a·bil·i·ty, prov·a·ble·ness, noun
prov·a·bly, adverb
prov·en·ly, adverb
prover, noun
half-proved, adjective
half-proven, adjective
non·prov·a·ble, adjective
o·ver·prove, verb (used with object), o·ver·proved, o·ver·proved or o·ver·prov·en, o·ver·prov·ing.
pre·prove, verb (used with object), pre·proved, pre·proved or pre·prov·en, pre·prov·ing.
self-proving, adjective
sem·i·prov·en, adjective
un·prov·a·ble, adjective
un·proved, adjective
un·prov·en, adjective
un·prov·ing, adjective
well-proved, adjective
well-proven, adjective

Words Nearby prove

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prove in a sentence

Experienced practitioners like Arctaris and Four Points prove that OZs can generate both impact and returns.
Opportunity Zones haven’t fully reached their potential, but don’t write them off yet | jakemeth | September 16, 2020 | Fortune
The play from Miami’s youth has proven that Butler and Spoelstra’s trust was not misplaced.
The Miami Heat Act Like They’ve Been Here Before. They (Mostly) Haven’t. | Andres Waters | September 15, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
SteelHouse Performance TV, our CTV ad solution, has proven especially effective at driving key metrics for our advertisers in 2020.
5 tips for adding connected TV to your holiday ad strategy | Sponsored Content: SteelHouse | September 14, 2020 | Search Engine Land
The model of development with a proven record of success has been revealed as extremely dangerous if it continues as it has in the past.
What’s causing climate change, in 10 charts | David Roberts | September 11, 2020 | Vox
Ample examples exist to prove the effectiveness of guest posting in gaining brand visibility.
Inbound marketing for brand awareness: Four up-to-date ways to do it | Ali Faagba | September 11, 2020 | Search Engine Watch

The digital dating sphere can prove tricky, and bruising, for the trans user.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem | David Levesley | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Lee and Coogan did briefly meet with the pope, with pictures to prove it, but no one at the Vatican officially screened the film.
Pope Francis Has the Pleasure of Meeting Angelina Jolie for a Few Seconds | Barbie Latza Nadeau | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
But if you have a hearing and you prove that someone is mature enough, well then that state interest evaporates.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die? | Brandy Zadrozny | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Week after week, The Daily Beast features classic stories from the past that prove great writing is timeless.
The Best of The Stacks: Mencken, Mel Brooks, Allman Brothers, and More | Alex Belth | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He did not plead guilty, and has regularly filed petitions in an effort to prove his innocence.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015 | Movements.Org | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Whether they had ever, at different times, pleaded for or against the same cause, and cited precedents to prove contrary opinions?
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift
Accordingly, the question "How far does the note issue under the new system seem likely to prove an elastic one?"
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur Phillips
The pictures of flowers which this artist paints prove her to be a devoted lover of nature.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine Clement
I shall therefore, in my effort to prove the Bible fallible, quote almost wholly from Christian critics.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
Letters coming from him from time to time prove that he was alive and well at least until three months ago.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for prove

prove

/ (pruːv) /

verbproves, proving, proved, proved or proven (mainly tr)

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

law to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)
to show (oneself) able or courageous
(copula) to be found or shown (to be): this has proved useless; he proved to be invaluable
printing to take a trial impression of (type, etc)
(intr) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking
archaic to undergo

Origin of prove

C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest

Derived forms of prove

provable, adjective
provability, noun
provably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with prove

prove

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove

prove out

also see:

exception proves the rule

Browse