verb (used with object)
- to state with assurance, confidence, or force; state strongly or positively; affirm; aver: He asserted his innocence of the crime.
- to maintain or defend (claims, rights, etc.).
- to state as having existence; affirm; postulate: to assert a first cause as necessary.
- assert oneself, to insist on one’s rights, declare one’s views forcefully, etc.: The candidate finally asserted himself about property taxes.
verb (tr)
- to insist upon (rights, claims, etc)
- (may take a clause as object) to state to be true; declare categorically
- to put (oneself) forward in an insistent manner
also also reassert, 1660s, from re- + assert. Related: Reasserted; reasserting; reassertion.
c.1600, “declare,” from Latin assertus, past participle of asserere “claim, maintain, affirm” (see assertion). Related: Asserted; asserting. To assert oneself “stand up for one’s rights” is recorded from 1879.