prove

[ proov ]

/ pruv /

Save This Word!

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR prove

1 demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.

See synonyms for prove on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR prove

1 disprove.

See antonyms for prove on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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.

historical usage of 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 FROM prove

prov·a·ble, adjectiveprov·a·bil·i·ty, prov·a·ble·ness, nounprov·a·bly, adverbprov·en·ly, adverb

prover, nounhalf-proved, adjectivehalf-proven, adjectivenon·prov·a·ble, adjectiveo·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, adjectivesem·i·prov·en, adjectiveun·prov·a·ble, adjectiveun·proved, adjectiveun·prov·en, adjectiveun·prov·ing, adjectivewell-proved, adjectivewell-proven, adjective

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

PROVED VS. PROVEN

What’s the difference between proved and proven?

Proved and proven are both acceptable past participle forms of the verb prove. This means they can both be used in constructions that are classified as present perfect (as in I have proved or I have proven) or past perfect (as in I had proved or I had proven).

In these cases, these past participle forms are paired with a form of the helping verb (auxiliary verb) has. However, they can also be used in passive constructions that don’t use a helping verb, as in It was proved or It was proven.

While proved can also be used as the simple past tense form of prove, as in You proved me wrong, proven cannot (for example, it would be ungrammatical to say You proven me wrong).

Though both words can technically be used as adjectives, proven is far more commonly used this way, as in a proven method or a proven fact.

Here’s an example of proved and proven used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: This study has proved that it often takes a long period of time for things that have been scientifically proven to be accepted as proven facts by a majority of people.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between proved and proven.

Quiz yourself on proved vs. proven!

Would proved or proven be more likely to be used in the following sentence?

It is a _____ fact that the earth is round.

How to use prove in a sentence

Huckabee will also need to establish a reliable fundraising base, something that up until now has proved to be elusive.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But Cocker proved to be a survivor, bringing his passionate persona to concert halls around the world decade after decade.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For those unfamiliar, soba is buckwheat noodle dish—and they proved much more popular amongst the public.
Inside The World’s 10 Oldest Restaurants|Justin Jones|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tests at the clinic proved what she suspected: she was pregnant.
States Slap Pregnant Women With Harsher Jail Sentences|Emily Shire|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

These crimes of fashion proved the men were feminine and thus gay and therefore worthy of incarceration.
The Straight Hero of Cameroon’s Gays|Jay Michaelson|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His 6,000 native auxiliaries (as it proved later on) could not be relied upon in a civil war.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
But it was not only as an organiser and transmitter of orders that Berthier proved his usefulness to his chief.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
By the end of the campaign of 1796 he had proved that he was as great a chief of the staff as Bonaparte was a great commander.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
To Harry's surprise, the soldier detailed to go with him proved to be a boy, not much older than himself.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
"Marco's" reply conclusively proved his possession of a Christian spirit.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various

British Dictionary definitions for prove

prove

/ (pruːv) /

verb proves, 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

Derived forms of prove

provable, adjectiveprovability, nounprovably, adverb

Word Origin for prove

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

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

prove

OTHER WORDS FOR prove

OPPOSITES FOR prove

Origin of prove

usage note for prove

historical usage of prove

OTHER WORDS FROM prove

PROVED VS. PROVEN

What’s the difference between proved and proven?

Quiz yourself on proved vs. proven!

Words related to prove

How to use prove in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prove

Derived forms of prove

Word Origin for prove

Other Idioms and Phrases with prove