affirm
Americanverb (used with object)
-
affirms,
present (3rd person singular)
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affirmed,
past participle, past
-
affirming
present participle
-
to state or assert positively; maintain as true.
to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.
- Synonyms:
- testify, depose, asseverate, aver
- Antonyms:
- deny
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to confirm or ratify.
The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.
-
to assert solemnly.
He affirmed his innocence.
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to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support.
to affirm human rights.
-
to support (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement.
She described the unhappy memory of her father, who had neither disciplined nor affirmed her.
verb (used without object)
-
affirms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
affirmed,
past participle, past
-
affirming
present participle
verb
-
(may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
-
to uphold, confirm, or ratify
-
(intr) law to make an affirmation
Synonym Usage
See declare.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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affirmernoun
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overaffirmverb
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preaffirmverb
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reaffirmverb (used with object)
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affirmableadjective
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affirmablyadverb
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affirminglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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affirmsimple
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affirmssimple
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have affirmedperfect
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has affirmedperfect
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am affirmingprogressive
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are affirmingprogressive
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is affirmingprogressive
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have been affirmingperfect progressive
-
has been affirmingperfect progressive
Past
-
affirmedsimple
-
had affirmedperfect
-
was affirmingprogressive
-
were affirmingprogressive
-
had been affirmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of affirm
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” ( see firm 1); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin
Explanation
To affirm something is to give it a big "YES" or to confirm that it is true. The verb affirm means to answer positively, but it has a more weighty meaning in legal circles. People are asked to swear an oath or affirm that they will tell the truth in a court of law. Lawyers may ask people to affirm facts, and judges may affirm rulings. In these cases, affirm means to verify or attest to the validity of something.
Vocabulary lists containing affirm
Speech and Debate
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"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
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This Week In Culture: Current Events Vocab for October 3–9, 2020
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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.
See Examples For:
But there is another kind of urgency: If her capacity continues to decline, some of these “workaround windows” that require her to appear in person or affirm her own wishes will eventually close entirely.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Later that same week, one report after another would affirm AI’s march of market dominance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Advocates are beating back policies that make it a crime to be homeless and fighting to affirm the rights of their homeless neighbors.
From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2026
County, the Civilian Oversight Commission has said the March ruling, AB 847 and Measure R combine to affirm its subpoena powers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
It has now been thinned and I am testing it here to affirm that it is acceptable for writing.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
Two months have since passed, and he’s still offered no explanation for his appearance, which incidentally only affirms suspicions.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
She believes the painting affirms that the bull knows what is best for Europa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
“This ruling affirms what our neighbors have been telling us for more than a year, and it delivers relief while the case moves forward.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
"I'll go to social media before Google or somewhere else. Everyone is already talking about it," affirms Major.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
“Always,” Dedd affirms, used to this fixed, monolithic language around interviewers and mythologizers of her sisters.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
"With several lives lost and many injured, the toll remains provisional. The minister offered condolences, affirmed solidarity with families, and ordered assessments of affected schools to ensure learning continuity."
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
In late July, China affirmed that it would tax offshore trusts, previously a popular tool for wealthy Chinese to park assets overseas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
“If you are born in America, you are American — period. The Constitution says it and the Supreme Court has affirmed it,” Schumer said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
FCC, a 1990s case that affirmed the constitutionality of regulations derived from the scarcity of broadcast licenses, despite the rise of cable television at that point.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
As often as she could she caught her son’s eye, nodded at him and simulated a smile which, though flimsily constructed, affirmed her loyalty.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Data from 2025-26 indicated "significantly higher rates of referral for gender affirming surgery... compared with English gender services", said Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
On Sunday, after her setback, she squawks half halfheartedly a few times, with the center affirming she’s “brighter.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
With a deadline looming to print ballots for the Aug. 18 primary, the state Justices issued a brief order affirming Judge Matthews, with a full opinion to come later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Ali Munshi said she recognizes her daughter’s success as a natural outcome of her family and community affirming and encouraging her from an early age.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
The same day as the funeral service in Charleston—June 26, 2015—the Supreme Court of the United States issued a landmark decision, affirming that same-sex couples had the right to marry in all fifty states.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
