establish

[ih-stab-lish]

verb (used with object)

1. to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis.

   to establish a university; to establish a medical practice.

   Synonyms: organize, form
   Antonyms: abolish

2. to install or settle in a position, place, business, etc..

   to establish one's child in business.

3. to show to be valid or true; prove.

   to establish the facts of the matter.

   Synonyms: substantiate, verify
   Antonyms: disprove

4. to cause to be accepted or recognized.

   to establish a custom; She established herself as a leading surgeon.

5. to bring about permanently.

   to establish order.

6. to enact, appoint, or ordain for permanence, as a law; fix unalterably.

   Synonyms: decree

7. to make (a church) a national or state institution.

8. Cards.,  to obtain control of (a suit) so that one can win all the subsequent tricks in it.

establish

/ ɪˈstæblɪʃ /

verb

1. to make secure or permanent in a certain place, condition, job, etc

   to establish one's usefulness

   to establish a house

2. to create or set up (an organization, etc) on or as if on a permanent basis

   to establish a company

3. to prove correct or free from doubt; validate

   to establish a fact

4. to cause (a principle, theory, etc) to be widely or permanently accepted

   to establish a precedent

5. to give (a Church) the status of a national institution

6. (of a person) to become recognized and accepted

   he established himself as a reliable GP

7. (in works of imagination) to cause (a character, place, etc) to be credible and recognized

   the first scene established the period

8. cards to make winners of (the remaining cards of a suit) by forcing out opponents' top cards

9. (also intr) botany

   1. to cause (a plant) to grow or (of a plant) to grow in a new place

      the birch scrub has established over the past 25 years

   2. to become or cause to become a sapling or adult plant from a seedling

Other Word Forms

• establishable adjective
• establisher noun
• reestablish verb (used with object)
• superestablish verb (used with object)
• unestablishable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of establish¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English establissen, establishen, from Middle French establiss-, extended stem of establir, from Latin stabilīre, derivative of stabilis stable ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of establish¹

C14: from Old French establir, from Latin stabilīre to make firm, from stabilis _stable ²

Synonym Study

See fix.

Example Sentences

Hunter plays on offence and defence and hopes to establish himself as the NFL's first genuine two-way player since the 1990s and a certain Deion Sanders, who was his college coach at Colorado.

From BBC

The following year she established Renteria Paralegal Services, a business specialising in immigration law.

From BBC

Homeowners who come back are the ones able to afford to navigate the process, and brand-new houses in established areas attract outsiders.

From Los Angeles Times

He made his Arsenal debut in August 2022 and has established himself as a key member of the side, making 105 league appearances for the Gunners, scoring six goals and registering two assists.

From BBC

A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.

From BBC

Related Words

• authorize 
• base 
• build 
• create 
• enact 
• form 
• found 
• inaugurate 
• install 
• institute 
• provide 
• put 
• settle 
• start