prove

[proov] /pruv/

verb (used with object), proved, proved or proven, proving.

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 proven, proving.

10.

to turn out:

The experiment proved to be successful.

11.

to be found by trial or experience to be:

His story proved false.

12.

(of dough) to rise to a specified lightness:

Leave covered until it has proved.

Origin

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

Related forms

provable, adjective

provability, provableness, noun

provably, adverb

provenly, adverb

prover, noun

half-proved, adjective

half-proven, adjective

nonprovable, adjective

overprove, verb (used with object), overproved, overproved or overproven, overproving.

preprove, verb (used with object), preproved, preproved or preproven, preproving.

self-proving, adjective

semiproven, adjective

unprovable, adjective

unproved, adjective

unproven, adjective

unproving, adjective

well-proved, adjective

well-proven, adjective

Synonyms

1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.

Antonyms

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.

Examples from the web for prove

City life is no better, and can in fact prove far more vicious.
For both writers, the evening would prove a turning point.
The book illuminates the lives of the two pioneers who were both determined to prove that methods of inoculation could work.
Most people who write about this case seem to have an agenda of sorts as if they are out to prove something, one way or another.
Teenagers are insecure about their rank so they're always trying to prove it.
He was now in a position to prove or disprove the charge.
Now, he must prove himself worthy of the charge laid upon him as a leading teacher, and speak.
His plea was that there had been a large increase in the census of the prison, and he marched up a column of figures to prove it.
Golf, politics and presidents prove to be range bedfellows.
Yet, ultimately, the bad rap might prove to be undeserved.

British Dictionary definitions for prove

prove

/pruːv/

verb (mainly transitive) proves, proving, proved, proved, proven

(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)

(intransitive) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking

(archaic) to undergo

Derived Forms

provable, adjective
provability, noun
provably, adverb

Word Origin

C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest

Word Origin and History for 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 prove

prove

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove also see: exception proves the rule