prove

[ proov ]

/ pruv /

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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.

Nearby words

proustite, prout, prov, prov., provascular tissue, prove, prove out, proven, provenance, provence, provence rose

Origin of prove

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

SYNONYMS FOR prove

1 demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.

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ANTONYMS FOR prove

1 disprove.

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Related forms

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

prov·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

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

Examples from the Web for unproven

Anti-abortion organizations tend to tend to propagate the idea that the procedure is dangerous and unproven.
Abortion Complications Are Rare, No Matter What the Right Says|Samantha Allen|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The notion that Ebola might be a sexually transmitted disease remains plausible if unproven.
Did One Liberian Prostitute Give Ebola to Eight Soldiers?|Kent Sepkowitz|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But last week the idea that sometimes we should say no to unproven technology was finally given a hearing.
Can Fitbit Data Save Lives?|Daniela Drake|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While CBS is taking a gamble on a relatively unknown (and unproven) talent, to many critics this decision was all too predictable.
Late Night Adds Another White Dude: James Corden Replacing Craig Ferguson at ‘The Late Late Show’|Amy Zimmerman|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

[It] is ludicrous to make such a risky and unproven view the centerpiece of European science policy.
The Science Community’s Fight Over an Artificial Brain|Elizabeth Picciuto|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is quite a modern theory that the sins formerly laid to the charge of meat are all unproven, but it is a perfectly just one.
A Manual of Toy Dogs|Mrs. Leslie Williams
In short, so far from being a great universal philosophy, it is simply a disjointed combination of unproven theories.
The Other Side of Evolution|Alexander Patterson
The mystery of unknown and unproven danger did not fascinate him.
Cleg Kelly, Arab of the City|S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
The unproven sons of Fleur would indeed need the stamina of wolves to take them through the days to come.
The Whelps of the Wolf|George Marsh
We found that the unproven and discredited theory of evolution lies at the bottom of it.
The Church, the Schools and Evolution|J. E. (Judson Eber) Conant

British Dictionary definitions for unproven (1 of 2)

unproven

/ (ʌnˈpruːvən) /

adjective

not established as true by evidence or demonstrationunproven allegations

(of a new product, system, treatment, etc) not tried or tested

British Dictionary definitions for unproven (2 of 2)

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with unproven

prove

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove

prove out

also see:

exception proves the rule

prove

verb (used with object), proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

verb (used without object), proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of prove

SYNONYMS FOR prove

ANTONYMS FOR prove

Related forms

Usage note

Examples from the Web for unproven

British Dictionary definitions for unproven (1 of 2)

unproven

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unproven (2 of 2)

prove

verb proves, proving, proved, proved or proven (mainly tr)

Derived Forms

Word Origin for prove

Idioms and Phrases with unproven

prove