bear witness

[bair wit-nis]

idiom

1. to serve as evidence that something is true or real.

   Not everyone’s sobriety can bear witness to the effectiveness of rehab, but in her case it most certainly can.

2. to proclaim or demonstrate a devout belief in.

   Who will join me in bearing witness to our Lord?

3. to testify; give or afford evidence, as in a court of law.

   When the case went to trial, he reluctantly agreed to bear witness against his neighbor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bear witness¹

First recorded in 1300–50

Example Sentences

The image — snapped by Edward Burtynsky, an artist who has spent four decades dedicated to “bearing witness to the impact of human industry on the planet” — reads like a parade of corporate logos.

From Salon

“When humble people are attacked,” he said, “we are here to bear witness.”

From Los Angeles Times

Now 69, Williams was stationed in the region throughout the 1990s, bearing witness to what she now calls some of the darkest scenes of her career.

From Salon

They have also taken to the courtroom benches to bear witness with silent prayer.

From Los Angeles Times

Propaganda and lies have become the norms, and few have the ability to bear witness to truth inside places of state power such as detention centers.

From Los Angeles Times