prove

[proov]

verb (used with object)

proved, proved, proven, proving. 

1. to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument.

   to prove one's claim.

   Synonyms: verify, substantiate, confirm, demonstrate
   Antonyms: disprove

2. Law.,  to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.

3. to give demonstration of by action.

4. to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc..

   to prove ore.

5. to show (oneself ) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.

6. Mathematics.,  to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.

7. Printing.,  Also to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).

8. to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.

9. Archaic.,  to experience.

verb (used without object)

proved, proved, proven, proving. 

1. to turn out.

   The experiment proved to be successful.

2. to be found by trial or experience to be.

   His story proved false.

3. (of dough) to rise to a specified lightness.

   Leave covered until it has proved.

prove

/ pruːv /

verb

1. (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

2. to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis

3. law to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)

4. to show (oneself) able or courageous

5. (copula) to be found or shown (to be)

   this has proved useless

   he proved to be invaluable

6. printing to take a trial impression of (type, etc)

7. (intr) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking

8. archaic,  to undergo

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• provability noun
• provably adverb
• provable adjective
• provableness noun
• provenly adverb
• prover noun
• half-proved adjective
• half-proven adjective
• nonprovable adjective
• overprove verb (used with object)
• preprove verb (used with object)
• self-proving adjective
• semiproven adjective
• unprovable adjective
• unproved adjective
• unproven adjective
• unproving adjective
• well-proved adjective
• well-proven adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prove¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English proven, from Old French prover, from Latin probāre “to try, test, prove, approve,” derivative of probus “good.” See probity

Word History and Origins

Origin of prove¹

C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest

Idioms and Phrases

• exception proves the rule

Example Sentences

A strong opening weekend box office take for “Alien: Romulus” proves how eager we are to see Ridley Scott’s franchise return to its roots.

From Salon

But Putin is proving to be tougher than he realized.

From Salon

Bolling, saying something sensible for the first, and perhaps last, time in his life, observed, “He can prove it’s a hoax by releasing it!”

From Salon

He got his due in “A New Era” when he proved himself to be a skilled screenwriter and charmed Phyllis Baxter.

From Los Angeles Times

The following year, the U.S. government forced Californios to prove they owned the land they lived on, even though the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War, had ensured their property rights.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• confirm 
• convince 
• demonstrate 
• determine 
• explain 
• find 
• justify 
• result 
• show 
• substantiate 
• test 
• try 
• turn out 
• validate 
• verify