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
also see: