verb (used with object)
- to establish the truth, accuracy, validity, or genuineness of; corroborate; verify: This report confirms my suspicions.
- to acknowledge with definite assurance: Did the hotel confirm our room reservation?
- to make valid or binding by some formal or legal act; sanction; ratify: to confirm a treaty; to confirm her appointment to the Supreme Court.
- to make firm or more firm; add strength to; settle or establish firmly: Their support confirmed my determination to run for mayor.
- to strengthen (a person) in habit, resolution, opinion, etc.: The accident confirmed him in his fear of driving.
- to administer the religious rite of confirmation to.
verb (tr)
- (may take a clause as object) to prove to be true or valid; corroborate; verify
- (may take a clause as object) to assert for a second or further time, so as to make more definitehe confirmed that he would appear in court
- to strengthen or make more firmhis story confirmed my doubts
- to make valid by a formal act or agreement; ratify
- to administer the rite of confirmation to
v.mid-13c., confirmyn “to ratify,” from Old French confermer (13c., Modern French confirmer) “strengthen, establish, consolidate; affirm by proof or evidence; anoint (a king),” from Latin confirmare “make firm, strengthen, establish,” from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + firmare “to strengthen,” from firmus (see firm (adj.)). Related: Confirmative; confirmatory.