establish Hear it!

establish Definition

es·tab·lish (ə stab′lis̸h, i-)

transitive verb

  1. to make stable; make firm; settle to establish a habit
  2. to order, ordain, or enact (a law, statute, etc.) permanently
  3. to set up (a government, nation, business, etc.); found; institute
  4. to cause to be or happen; bring about efforts to establish a friendship
  5. to settle in an office or position, or set up as in business or a profession
  6. to make a state institution of (a church)
  7. to set up (a precedent, theory, reputation, etc.) permanently; cause to be accepted or recognized
  8. to prove; demonstrate to establish one's cause at law
  9. Card Games to win control of (a suit) so that one is sure of taking all the remaining tricks in it

Etymology: ME establissen < extended stem of OFr establir < L stabilire < stabilis, stable

establish Related Forms
es·tab′·lisher noun
establish Synonyms

establish

v.

  1. To set up in a formal manner

    institute, found, authorize; see organize 2.

  2. To work or settle in a permanent place

    set up, install, build, erect, build up, entrench, set, plant, root, place, settle, lodge, settle in, lay the foundation, lay the foundation for, make provisions for, domiciliate, practice, live, ground, ensconce, set on its feet, land.

    Antonyms unsettle, uproot, break up.

  3. To determine

    ascertain, learn, find out; see discover.

  4. To prove

    verify, authenticate, confirm; see prove.

  5. To make secure

    fix, secure, stabilize; see fasten 1.

establish Usage Examples

Preposition: at

  • outset: The organizer of the meeting can establish at the outset how long, ideally, they would like each point to take.

Subject

  • statute: The new Agency should be established by statute as an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body.

Object

  • reputation: Free Spirit Fishing has established a reputation for exceptional quality and value for money.
  • relationship: This proved helpful in establishing the physical relationship between departments within the clinic.
  • framework: The purpose of the Civil Contingencies Act is to establish a new statutory framework for civil protection at the local level.
  • link: The Action Medical Research link Our research established inital link The folic acid debate is very dear to our hearts at Action Medical Research.
  • principle: This charter established the principle of the constitutional monarchy and affirmed the individual's right to justice and liberty.
  • partnership: Reading together - Literacy villages, run by Notts County Council, established a partnership between a coalfield village and a very rural village.

Used with why or when

  • which: Comfort of furniture Research to establish which factors contribute to enhancing the comfort of furniture.
  • who: Establish who will have access and for what purposes.
  • what: We'll also establish just what the shortcomings of your current system are and the business objectives of any new system.
  • where: It is also important to establish where you family originated.
  • why: The first stage is to fully diagnose the problem and establish why you have dampness.
  • that: A formal structure must be established that determines a positive working relationship between link workers and all the relevant community agencies they deal with.

Infinitive complement

  • promote: Notes to editors: WRAP ( the Waste & Resources Action Program ) is a major UK program established to promote resource efficiency.
  • advise: A third sector advisory panel, will be established to advise the Office on third sector issues.
  • co-ordinate: An Advisory Group chaired by Professor M. G. Lloyd of the Center for Planning Research will be established to co-ordinate evaluation activity.

Preposition: under

  • auspice: Most of the synagogues serving congregations in the outer suburbs have been established under the auspices of the United Synagogue.

Preposition: for

  • purpose: Must new review bodies be established purely for this purpose, or are such proposals referred to Trusts ' existing Clinical Ethics Committees?

Preposition: by

  • statute: The new Agency should be established by statute as an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body.