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prove Definition

prove (pro̵̅o̅v)

transitive verb proved, proved or prov′en, prov′·ing

  1. to test by experiment, a standard, etc.; subject to a testing process; try out
  2. to establish as true; demonstrate to be a fact
  3. to establish the validity or authenticity of (esp. a will)
  4. to show (oneself) to be capable, dependable, etc.
  5. Archaic to experience; learn or know by experience
  6. Math. to test or verify the correctness of (a calculation, etc.)
  7. Printing to take a proof of (type, etc.)

Etymology: ME proven < OFr prover < L probare: see probe

intransitive verb

  1. to be found or shown by experience or trial; turn out to be a guess that proved right
  2. Archaic to make trial

prove Related Forms
prov′·abil′·ity noun or prov′·able·ness prov′·able adjective prov′·ably adverb prov′er noun
prove Idioms

the exception proves the rule

prove out

☆

to show or be shown to be satisfactory, accurate, true, etc.

prove Synonyms

prove

v.

justify, substantiate, authenticate, corroborate, testify, explain, attest, show, warrant, uphold, determine, settle, fix, certify, back, sustain, validate, bear out, affirm, confirm, make evident, convince, evidence, be evidence of, witness, declare, testify, betoken, have a case, manifest, demonstrate, document, establish, settle once and for all, (just) go to show*; see also verify.

Antonyms disprove*, break down*, disqualify.

prove Usage Examples

Object

  • existence: The only sure way of proving the existence of oil is to drill for it.
  • success: This time, the series ran from September to December without a break, proving the success had been no fluke.
  • hit: Book 1, when it was complete, proved a hit with readers.
  • anything: This doesn't prove anything about religion, of course.
  • obstacle: Sudoku combines simplicity and elegance into fiendishly difficult puzzles... remoteness proved no obstacle for child competitors at the first Times National.. .
  • truth: I had to prove the truth of what I said.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • wrong: We proved the opinion polls wrong by a factor of 50 % .

Adjective complement

  • invaluable: Regular attendance at these sessions has proved invaluable to past students.
  • popular: Russian courses in London are proving popular among businessmen wishing to deal with the former USSR.
  • difficult: Measuring the actual numbers who attended the Mela as a result of Mela on the Mile proved difficult.
  • successful: Place adverts in shop windows and local papers, consider a leaflet drop which is proving very successful at the moment.
  • fatal: Minutes or even seconds being lost could prove fatal.
  • impossible: In practice, it proved impossible to make arrangements with some of them.

Used with why or when

  • why: Scot Keith Armor proved just why he is a star of the future on his debut to the circuit.

Preposition: beyond

  • doubt: Rogers argues that he did, but while the case is a good one, it cannot be proven beyond doubt.

Present participle complement

  • devastate: Natural or man-made disasters can prove devastating for an unprepared business.
  • irritate: The acting of all the four actors was generally fine, but the monotone voice of Lams proved irritating throughout the production.
  • tire: The line of rippling crags means you're in for a good deal of ascent and descent, which can prove rather tiring.

Preposition: in

  • court: Before 1858 the wills would have been proved in the local church courts.
prove Quotes

Above all I was determined to prove that the Australian novel is not necessarily the dreary, dun-coloured offspring of journalistic realism.

—White, Patrick Victor Martindale

Prove all things; hold fast that which isgood.

—Bible (NewTestament)

I could prove God statistically.

—Gallup, George Horace

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the L, she came to prove him with hard questions.

—Bible (Old Testament)

The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted and when to be obeyed.

—Hawthorne, Nathaniel

New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove.

—Keble,John