prove

[ proov ]

verb (used with object)

, proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

1. to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument:

   to prove one's claim.

   Synonyms: verify, substantiate, confirm, demonstrate

   Antonyms: disprove

2. Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.
3. to give demonstration of by action.
4. to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.:

   to prove ore.

5. to show (oneself ) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.
6. Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
7. Also Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
8. to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
9. Archaic. to experience.

verb (used without object)

, proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

1. to turn out:

   The experiment proved to be successful.

2. to be found by trial or experience to be:

   His story proved false.

3. (of dough) to rise to a specified lightness:

   Leave covered until it has proved.

prove

/ pruːv /

verb

1. may take a clause as object or an infinitive to establish or demonstrate the truth or validity of; verify, esp by using an established sequence of procedures or statements
2. to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis
3. law to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)
4. to show (oneself) able or courageous
5. copula to be found or shown (to be)

   this has proved useless

   he proved to be invaluable

6. printing to take a trial impression of (type, etc)
7. intr (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking
8. archaic.
   to undergo

Usage Note

Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove : Events have proved (or proven ) him wrong. As a modifier, proven is by far the more common: a proven fact.

Derived Forms

• ˌprovaˈbility, noun
• ˈprovably, adverb
• ˈprovable, adjective

Other Words From

• prova·ble adjective
• prova·bili·ty prova·ble·ness noun
• prova·bly adverb
• proven·ly adverb
• prover noun
• half-proved adjective
• half-proven adjective
• non·prova·ble adjective
• over·prove verb (used with object) overproved overproved or overproven overproving
• pre·prove verb (used with object) preproved preproved or preproven preproving
• self-proving adjective
• semi·proven adjective
• un·prova·ble adjective
• un·proved adjective
• un·proven adjective
• un·proving adjective
• well-proved adjective
• well-proven adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prove¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English proven, from Old French prover, from Latin probāre “to try, test, prove, approve,” derivative of probus “good.” See probity

Word History and Origins

Origin of prove¹

C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove , also see exception proves the rule .

Example Sentences

In 1989, when climate politics was still fledgling, he warned that the effects of warming were going to prove explosive along America’s borders — and that, left unresolved, communities could disintegrate into violence.

From Salon

If there’s any good news, the only person who has proven able to consistently stop Trump is Trump himself.

From Salon

Rachel Reeves' budget proved controversial in the agricultural sector after she announced an end to exemptions for some farms.

From BBC

There are concerns that the change - which has proved controversial among farmers since its announcement - could become “totemic” in rural Britain.

From BBC

But John Lewis has hit a "more traditional" feel, she added, after last year’s advert proved divisive.

From BBC

Related Words

• confirm
• convince
• demonstrate
• determine
• explain
• find
• justify
• result
• show
• substantiate
• test
• try
• turn out
• validate
• verify