prove
Use Prove in a sentence
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verb (used with object)
1.
to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument: to prove one's claim.
2.
Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.
3.
to give demonstration of by action.
4.
to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.: to prove ore.
5.
to show (oneself) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.
6.
Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
7.
Also, proof. Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
8.
to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
9.
Archaic. to experience.
verb (used without object)
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.
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Prove
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| chat, to converse |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
Origin:
1125–75; Middle English proven < Old French prover < Latin probāre to try, test, prove, approve, derivative of probus good. See probity
1125–75; Middle English proven < Old French prover < Latin probāre to try, test, prove, approve, derivative of probus good. See probity
Related forms
prov·a·ble, adjective
prov·a·bil·i·ty, prov·a·ble·ness, noun
prov·a·bly, adverb
prov·en·ly, adverb
prov·er, noun
half-proved, adjective
half-prov·en, adjective
non·prov·a·ble, adjective
o·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, adjective
sem·i·prov·en, adjective
un·prov·a·ble, adjective
un·proved, adjective
un·prov·en, adjective
un·prov·ing, adjective
well-proved, adjective
well-prov·en, adjective
Synonyms
1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.
1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.
Antonyms
1. disprove.
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.
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 Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To prove
Collins
World English Dictionary
prove (pruːv) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , proves, proving, proved, proved, proven | |
| 1. | (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 |
| 2. | to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis |
| 3. | law to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will) |
| 4. | to show (oneself) able or courageous |
| 5. | (copula) to be found or shown (to be): this has proved useless; he proved to be invaluable |
| 6. | printing to take a trial impression of (type, etc) |
| 7. | (intr) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking |
| 8. | archaic to undergo |
| [C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest] | |
| 'provable | |
| —adj | |
| prova'bility | |
| —n | |
| 'provably | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
prove
c.1175, prouwe, from O.Fr. prover (11c.), from L. probare "to test, prove worthy," from probus "worthy, good, upright, virtuous," from PIE *pro-bhwo- "being in front," from *pro-, extended form of base *per-, + base *bhu- "to be" (cf. L. fui "I have been," futurus "about to be;" O.E. beon "to be;" see
be).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
prove
In addition to the idiom beginning with prove, also see exception proves the rule.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Teenagers are insecure about their rank so they're always trying to prove it.
But so far, no one had been able to prove experimentally that what's going on in the kitchen sink really represents a white hole.
The mission's goal is simply to prove that solar sail technology works.
Some of them may prove to be wrong, and others wrong-headed.
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