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Synonyms

confirm

American  
[kuhn-furm] / kənˈfɜrm /

verb (used with object)

  1. to establish the truth, accuracy, validity, or genuineness of; corroborate; verify.

    This report confirms my suspicions.

    Synonyms:
    validate , authenticate , substantiate , prove
    Antonyms:
    disprove
  2. to acknowledge with definite assurance.

    Did the hotel confirm our room reservation?

  3. to make valid or binding by some formal or legal act; sanction; ratify.

    to confirm a treaty;

    to confirm her appointment to the Supreme Court.

    Antonyms:
    invalidate
  4. to make firm or more firm; add strength to; settle or establish firmly.

    Their support confirmed my determination to run for mayor.

    Synonyms:
    fix
    Antonyms:
    shake
  5. to strengthen (a person) in habit, resolution, opinion, etc..

    The accident confirmed him in his fear of driving.

  6. to administer the religious rite of confirmation to.


confirm British  
/ kənˈfɜːm /

verb

  1. (may take a clause as object) to prove to be true or valid; corroborate; verify

  2. (may take a clause as object) to assert for a second or further time, so as to make more definite

    he confirmed that he would appear in court

  3. to strengthen or make more firm

    his story confirmed my doubts

  4. to make valid by a formal act or agreement; ratify

  5. to administer the rite of confirmation to

"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 Word Forms

  • confirmability noun
  • confirmable adjective
  • confirmatory adjective
  • confirmer noun
  • confirmingly adverb
  • nonconfirming adjective
  • preconfirm verb (used with object)
  • reconfirm verb (used with object)
  • unconfirm verb (used with object)
  • unconfirmability noun

Etymology

Origin of confirm

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin confirmāre “to strengthen, confirm” ( con-, firm 1 ); replacing Middle English confermen, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Lane County Sheriff’s office confirmed the 44-year-old former child star’s arrest in a Facebook statement shared Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

They will then need to confirm their identity through a TSA system known as TSA Confirm ID, which can check a person’s identity against passport data and other personally identifying information.

From The Wall Street Journal

If these devices produce answers to problems considered impossible for classical machines, how can anyone confirm that the results are correct?

From Science Daily

"Tests carried out on Monday... confirmed that she suffered a fracture... of the fibula on the left ankle," Barcelona said in a statement.

From Barron's

"Airbus confirms it has identified a supplier quality issue affecting a limited number of A320 metal panels," a spokeswoman for the company told AFP, confirming earlier media reports.

From Barron's