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 unproven

ambiguous, problematic, suspicious, dubious, arguable, controversial, vague, debatable, unproven, unsubstantiated, dangerous, unproved, hypothetical, analytical, experimental, risky, baseless, unwarranted, untrue, illogical

Examples from the Web for unproven

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
[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

Historical Examples of unproven

There are many and conclusive reasons for rejecting this unproven claim.
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
Is it scientific to accept as true an unproven theory and make it the basis of all belief?
The Other Side of Evolution
Alexander Patterson
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
As that Article was by unanimous consent abandoned and never put to vote, all its allegations logically fell as unproven.
History of the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, President of The United States
Edmund G. Ross

British Dictionary definitions for unproven

unproven

adjective

not established as true by evidence or demonstrationunproven allegations

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

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 unproven

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 unproven

prove

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove

prove out

also see:

exception proves the rule