testify

[tes-tuh-fahy]

verb (used without object)

testified, testifying 

1. to bear witness; give or afford evidence.

2. Law.,  to give testimony under oath or solemn affirmation, usually in court.

3. to make solemn declaration.

verb (used with object)

testified, testifying 

1. to bear witness to; affirm as fact or truth; attest.

2. to give or afford evidence of in any manner.

   Synonyms: prove, signify, show, indicate

3. Law.,  to state or declare under oath or affirmation, usually in court.

4. to declare, profess, or acknowledge openly.

testify

/ ˈtɛstɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to state (something) formally as a declaration of fact

   I testify that I know nothing about him

2. law to declare or give (evidence) under oath, esp in court

3. to be evidence (of); serve as witness (to)

   the money testified to his good faith

4. (tr) to declare or acknowledge openly

Other Word Forms

• testification noun
• testifier noun
• pretestify verb (used with object)
• retestify verb
• untestifying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of testify¹

1350–1400; Middle English testifyen < Latin testificārī to bear witness, equivalent to testi ( s ) witness + -ficārī -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of testify¹

C14: from Latin testificārī, from testis witness

Example Sentences

Harrison testified in court Thursday that Rinderknecht claimed he would use the gun in self-defense against his brother-in-law.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In fact, the only reason the young man is murdered is because he is uniquely positioned to implicate his superiors were he ever to testify about the scandal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The cooperator said they were “prepared with peanut butter” when they encountered a small chihuahua, Del Rio testified.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Quinn is now the executive director of the American Policyholder Association, an insurance watchdog, and he testifies before Congress and other lawmakers about how the insurance industry too often undercuts policyholders.

Read more on MarketWatch

At the time, Michaelis was already testifying at government hearings about fume events.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• announce 
• argue 
• assert 
• declare 
• depose 
• indicate 
• swear