prove

[ proov ]

/ pruv /

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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

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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.

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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

How to use prove in a sentence

As subscriptions become an increasingly alluring business model, fintechs will be forced to consider whether this proven strategy is worth the risk.
Are subscription services the future of fintech?|Walter Thompson|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch
In both of these studies, it’s very difficult to prove that transmission happened in flight.
How risky is air travel in the pandemic? Here’s what the science says.|Brian Resnick|November 12, 2020|Vox
To which I said, as the wife of an attorney, “You need data to prove that the children aren’t doing as well in that class.”
Please Get Your Noise Out of My Ears (Ep. 439)|Stephen J. Dubner|November 12, 2020|Freakonomics
College football is so often underscored by the chance to argue over scenarios that can’t really be proved one way or the other, and in this one respect, the 2020 season is no exception.
What’s Wrong With The NFL’s Best Teams?|Sarah Shachat|November 10, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

The mystery of Lizbert’s whereabouts and the compelling job you have as a journalist with something to prove aren’t enough.
‘Bugsnax’ is charming and funny, but sapped by vexing gameplay|Harold Goldberg|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
"You were never more mistaken in your life," replied Peter, with anything but legal guardedness concerning unprovable statements.
The Honorable Peter Stirling and What People Thought of Him|Paul Leicester Ford
In a book such as this, mooted questions which involve such multitudinous detail and such unprovable argument cannot be discussed.
Cathedrals and Cloisters of the South of France, Volume 1|Elise Whitlock Rose
A difficult possibility to conceive of individual intelligence and if unprovable against the theory of existence after death.
Percy Bysshe Shelley as a Philosopher and Reformer|Charles Sotheran
This answer, too, seems to entail an unprovable assumption which should not be made without explicit evidence.
The Ancestry of Modern Amphibia: A Review of the Evidence|Theodore H. Eaton
Godliness in men is latent, invisible, unprovable as to the sincerity of it, and obscure as to the exercise.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)|Richard Baxter

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

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