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prove

prove [proov] SynonymsWord Origin verb (used with object), proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument: to prove one’s claim.
Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.
to give demonstration of by action.
to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.: to prove ore.
to show (oneself) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one’s actions.
Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
Also proof. Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
Archaic. to experience.

verb (used without object), proved, proved or prov·en, prov·ing.

to turn out: The experiment proved to be successful.
to be found by trial or experience to be: His story proved false.
(of dough) to rise to a specified lightness: Leave covered until it has proved.

Origin of prove 1125–75; Middle English proven Old French prover Latin probāre to try, test, prove, approve, derivative of probus good. See probity Related formsprov·a·ble, adjectiveprov·a·bil·i·ty, prov·a·ble·ness, nounprov·a·bly, adverbprov·en·ly, adverbprov·er, nounhalf-proved, adjectivehalf-prov·en, adjectivenon·prov·a·ble, adjectiveo·ver·prove, verb (used with object), o·ver·proved, o·ver·proved or o·ver·prov·en, o·ver·prov·ing.pre·prove, verb (used with object), pre·proved, pre·proved or pre·prov·en, pre·prov·ing.self-prov·ing, adjectivesem·i·prov·en, adjectiveun·prov·a·ble, adjectiveun·proved, adjectiveun·prov·en, adjectiveun·prov·ing, adjectivewell-proved, adjectivewell-prov·en, adjectiveSynonyms for prove 1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.Antonyms for prove 1. disprove.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. British Dictionary definitions for well-proven prove verb proves, proving, proved, proved or proven (mainly tr)

(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
to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis
law to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)
to show (oneself) able or courageous
(copula) to be found or shown (to be)this has proved useless; he proved to be invaluable
printing to take a trial impression of (type, etc)
(intr) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking
archaic to undergo

Derived Formsprovable, adjectiveprovability, nounprovably, adverbWord Origin for prove C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest Word Origin and History for well-proven prove v.

late 12c., pruven, proven “to try, test; evaluate; demonstrate,” from Old French prover, pruver “show; convince; put to the test” (11c., Modern French prouver), from Latin probare “to make good; esteem, represent as good; make credible, show, demonstrate; test, inspect; judge by trial” (source also of Spanish probar, Italian probare), from probus “worthy, good, upright, virtuous,” from PIE *pro-bhwo- “being in front,” from *pro-, extended form of root *per- (1) “forward, through” (see per), + root *bhu- “to be” (cf. Latin fui “I have been,” futurus “about to be;” Old English beon “to be;” see be). Related: Proved; proven; proving.

Idioms and Phrases with well-proven prove

In addition to the idiom beginning with prove

prove out

also see:

exception proves the rule