prove

[proov]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prove 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

1125–75; Middle English proven < Old French prover < Latin probāre to try, test, prove, approve, derivative of probus good. See probity

Related formsprov·a·ble, adjectiveprov·a·bil·i·ty, prov·a·ble·ness, nounprov·a·bly, adverbprov·en·ly, adverbprov·er, nounhalf-proved, adjectivehalf-prov·en, 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-prov·ing, adjectivesem·i·prov·en, adjectiveun·prov·a·ble, adjectiveun·proved, adjectiveun·prov·en, adjectiveun·prov·ing, adjectivewell-proved, adjectivewell-prov·en, adjective

Synonyms for prove

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prove ON THESAURUS.COM

1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.

Antonyms for prove

1. disprove.

Usage note

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for proven

confirm, verify, explain, show, try, convince, result, determine, substantiate, test, demonstrate, validate, find, justify, attest, back, evidence, corroborate, evince, check

Examples from the Web for proven

Contemporary Examples of proven

The North Korean hackers have proven to be a persistent adversary, if not the most skilled one.
Obama Could Hit China to Punish North Korea
Shane Harris, Tim Mak
December 20, 2014
But these must be proven under a signed and sworn statement and judged reasonable by the DOH.
No More Paper Prescriptions: Docs Fight Fraud by Going Electronic
Dale Eisinger
December 18, 2014
A civilian corollary was proven when ISIS waterboarded journalist James Foley before beheading him.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built
Michael Daly
December 12, 2014
But the deliverance and liberation that has been longed for by Jews and Christians has proven to be an elusive thing.
During Advent, Lots of Waiting, But Not Enough Hope
Gene Robinson
December 7, 2014
But so far, the lack of proven Roman artifacts or ruins in the town has raised suspicions.
The Chinese Town Descended From Romans?
Nina Strochlic
December 4, 2014

Historical Examples of proven

Mr. Barlee was a proven friend of the colonists and of West Australia.
Explorations in Australia
John Forrest
"Whether they're that remains to be proven, Mr. Baumberger!"
Good Indian
B. M. Bower
Nor, indeed, could it ever have hurt her, coming from some one so proven as Gaspare.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
Just as the one was proven to be older than the others and the others than the one.
Parmenides
Plato
But that after death the soul will continue to exist is not yet proven even to my own satisfaction.
Phaedo
Plato

British Dictionary definitions for proven

proven

verb

a past participle of prove

See not proven

adjective

tried; testeda proven method

Derived Formsprovenly, adverb

prove

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 Formsprovable, 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

Word Origin and History for proven

adj.

1650s, past participle adjective from alternative past participle (originally in Scottish legal use) of prove (v).

prove

late 12c., pruven, proven "to try, test; evaluate; demonstrate," from Old French prover, pruver "show; convince; put to the test" (11c., Modern French prouver), from Latin probare "to make good; esteem, represent as good; make credible, show, demonstrate; test, inspect; judge by trial" (source also of Spanish probar, Italian probare), from probus "worthy, good, upright, virtuous," from PIE *pro-bhwo- "being in front," from *pro-, extended form of root *per- (1) "forward, through" (see per), + root *bhu- "to be" (cf. Latin fui "I have been," futurus "about to be;" Old English beon "to be;" see be). Related: Proved; proven; proving.

Idioms and Phrases with proven

prove

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove

prove out

also see:

exception proves the rule