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

Singapore established itself as a magnet for corporate guests after it entered the calendar in 2008.

From BBC

It is Amorim who is guiding players through the patterns he wants to establish.

From BBC

Google will also reportedly be asked to establish new measures around its artificial intelligence, Android operating system and use of data.

From BBC

If Republicans bow to his demand to recess the Senate so that he can install appointees without confirmation, it would rewrite the balance of power established by the founders more than two centuries ago.

From Salon

But in 2019, Turkey took control of the Ras Al-Ain area, where Alouk is situated, saying it needed to establish a “safe zone” to protect the country from what it described as terrorist attacks.

From BBC

Related Words

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