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

Derived Forms

• esˈtablisher, noun

Other Words From

• es·tab·lish·a·ble adjective
• es·tab·lish·er noun
• re·es·tab·lish verb (used with object)
• su·per·es·tab·lish verb (used with object)
• un·es·tab·lish·a·ble 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

It can only deal with crimes committed after 1 July 2002, when the Rome Statute - which established the court - came into force.

From BBC

"So the principle has been established. But it doesn't mean there aren't still other pressures on venues, from issues like planning to financial viability rates."

From BBC

The veterans and their lawyers have proposed the government launches a limited tribunal to establish whether documents were hidden, as an alternative to legal action.

From BBC

For example, it has not been possible to establish the cause behind a large proportion of the damages.

From Science Daily

This includes establishing whether an interruption to robot co-working it is more difficult for the participant to find the rhythm of co-moving with the robot, which may not be a trust issue as such.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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