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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.

These tests confirmed that PEDS1 is required for normal brain development.

From Science Daily

A detained police officer accused of "treason" against Venezuela died in state custody after a stroke and heart attack, the state prosecution service confirmed on Sunday.

From Barron's

He confirms there was never an intention to make “The Night Manager” Season 2 without Laurie.

From Los Angeles Times

Further analysis of a representative sample, Fr.9, using ^13C-DEPT NMR revealed the presence of an aldehyde group, confirming earlier findings.

From Science Daily

Three large dogs found roaming the streets of a Lancashire town the day before Halloween have been confirmed to be wolf-dogs after a rescue centre tested their DNA.

From BBC