testify

American  

[tes-tuh-fahy] / ˈtɛs təˌfaɪ /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of testify

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

Example Sentences

The issue will get an airing in Congress Tuesday when an independent investigator delving into archives at UBS’s Credit Suisse unit testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

From The Wall Street Journal

It's unclear when the depositions will take place, but it will be the first time a former US president has testified to a congressional panel since Gerald Ford did so in 1983.

From BBC

Anouska de Georgiou, a survivor who testified against Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell at her trial, told the Journal that her personal information was made public, including a picture of her driver’s license.

From Salon

Ghislaine Maxwell agreed last month to testify under oath before the congressional committee investigating the federal government's handling of the Epstein files.

From BBC

"In terms of testifying I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information," he told reporters.

From BBC

Related Words

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