Meanings
prove1
present singular third person proves · participle present proving · past proved · participle past proved · participle past proven · first person past singular proved · archaic present second person singular provest · past second person singular proved · archaic past second person singular provedst · present singular third person proves · archaic present singular third person proveth · past singular third person proved · past plural proved · past subjunctive proved · participle present proving · participle past proved
- transitiveTo demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for; to bear out; to testify.
Importantly, the hypothesis cannot be proven to be true—it can only be proven to be false.
2025, Larry V. Hedges, Elizabeth Tipton, Designing Small Evaluation Studies, page 3025 more examples
[VV]e are able with playne demonſtration to proue, and vvith reaſon to perſvvade that in tymes paſt our fayth vvas alike, that then vve preached thinges correſpondent vnto the forme of faith already published of vs, ſo that none in this behalfe can repyne or gaynesay vs.
1577, Socrates Scholasticus [i.e., Socrates of Constantinople], “Constantinus the Emperour Summoneth the Nicene Councell, it was Held at Nicæa a Citie of Bythnia for the Debatinge of the Controuersie about the Feast of Easter, and the Rootinge out of the Heresie of Arius”, in Eusebius Pamphilus, Socrates Scholasticus, Evagrius Scholasticus, Dorotheus, translated by Meredith Hanmer, The Avncient Ecclesiasticall Histories of the First Six Hundred Yeares after Christ, Wrytten in the Greeke Tongue by Three Learned Historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. …, book I (The First Booke of the Ecclesiasticall Historye of Socrates Scholasticvs), imprinted at London: By Thomas Vautroullier dwelling in the Blackefriers by Ludgate, →OCLC, page 225Mr. H …, whom no distinctions of that sort seemed to disturb, scarce gave himself or me breathing time from the last encounter, but, as if he had task'd himself to prove that the appearances of his vigour were not signs hung out in vain, in a few minutes he was in a condition for renewing the onset
Fanny Hill
1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLCValentine’s Day means different things for different people. For Homer, it means forking over a hundred dollars for a dusty box of chocolates at the Kwik-E-Mart after characteristically forgetting the holiday yet again. For Ned, it’s another opportunity to prove his love for his wife. Most germane to the episode, for Lisa, Valentine’s Day means being the only person in her entire class to give Ralph a Valentine after noticing him looking crestfallen and alone at his desk.
2012 August 5, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15; originally aired 02/11/1993)”, in AV Club, archived from the original on 11 Aug 2012WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets. They also exposed the blatant discrepancy between the west's professed values and actual foreign policies.
2013 June 7, Gary Younge, “Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 18“The commission is not set up to disprove or to prove President Trump’s claim, nor is it just looking at the 2016 election. We’re looking at all forms of election irregularities, voter fraud, voter registration fraud, voter intimidation, suppression, and looking at the vulnerabilities of the various elections we have in each of the 50 states,” Kobach told “New Day” co-host Chris Cuomo.
2017 May 15, David Wright, “Kobach: ‘Election integrity’ panel ‘not set up to prove or to disprove’ Trump”, in CNNSynonyms: substantiate
- copulativeTo turn out to be.
The hope that he’d react proved utterly unfounded.
4 more examples
Have an exit strategy should your calculations prove incorrect.
But ſhall I prooue a traitor to my King?
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene iiThis battle did not take place in the streets. It took place entirely in words, and it was to prove the turning point in the war.
1964, Jean Merrill, The Pushcart War, 2014 The New York Review Children's Collection edition, chapter 33, page 199He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on, with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.
2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport - transitiveTo put to the test, to make trial of.
The exception proves the rule.
3 more examples
They took the experimental car to the proving-grounds.
Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee, Till then not show my head where thou may'st prove me.
1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 26”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLCWounded and overthrown, the Britons continued their resistance, clung round the legs of the Norman steeds, and cumbered their advance; while their brethren, thrusting with pikes, proved every joint and crevice of the plate and mail, or grappling with the men-at-arms, strove to pull them from their horses by main force, or beat them down with their bills and Welch hooks.
1825 June 22, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in Tales of the Crusaders. […], volume I (The Betrothed), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 71 - transitiveTo ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify.
to prove a will
- archaictransitiveTo experience.
Where she, captived long, great woes did prove.
1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 34 - alternativeAlternative form of proof (“allow (dough) to rise; test the activeness of (yeast); pressure-test (a firearm)”).
- homeopathyTo determine by experiment which effects a substance causes when ingested.
prove2
- pastsimple past of proove
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for; to bear out; to testify.
More synonyms by meaning
verbestablish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment
verbput to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
prove · verb, noun
- Proto-Indo-European*pro-bʰuH-s“being in front, prominent”
- Latinprobō“test, try, examine, approve, show to be good or fit, prove”
- Old Frenchprover“to prove”
- Old Englishprōfian“to esteem, regard as, evince, try, prove”
- Middle Englishproven
- Englishprove
From Middle English proven, from Old English prōfian (“to esteem, regard as, evince, try, prove”) and Old French prover (“to prove”), both from Latin probō (“test, try, examine, approve, show to be good or fit, prove”, verb), from probus (“good, worthy, excellent”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰuH-s (“being in front, prominent”), from *pro-, *per- (“toward”) + *bʰuH- (“to be”). Displaced native Middle English sothen (“to prove”), from Old English sōþian (“to prove”). Doublet of probe. More at for, be, soothe.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Old French
Full word history & related roots →prove · verb
Simple past form of proove, conjugated as a Germanic strong verb, on the pattern of choose → chose.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans bewys, bewys
- bewysto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- bewysto turn out; to manifest
Ancient Greek τεκμηριόω, φαίνομαι
- τεκμηριόω (tekmērióō)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- φαίνομαι (phaínomai)to turn out; to manifest
Arabic بَرْهَنَ, أَثْبَتَ
- بَرْهَنَ (barhana)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- أَثْبَتَ (ʔaṯbata)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Basque frogatu, egiaztu
- frogatuto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- egiaztuto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Bengali প্রমাণ করা
- প্রমাণ করা (proman kora)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Bulgarian доказвам, оказвам се
- доказвам (dokazvam)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- оказвам се (okazvam se)to turn out; to manifest
- изпитвам (izpitvam)to put to the test, to make trial of
- проверявам (proverjavam)to ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify
Catalan provar, demostrar
- provarto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- demostrarto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Chinese Mandarin 證明 /证明
- 證明 /证明 (zhèngmíng)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Czech dokázat, prokázat
- dokázatto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- prokázatto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- ukázat seto turn out; to manifest
Danish bevise
- beviseto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Dutch bewijzen, aantonen
- bewijzento demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- aantonento demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- bewijs leverento demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- bewijzen leverento demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- blijkento turn out; to manifest
- uitwijzento turn out; to manifest
Esperanto pruvi, pruviĝi
- pruvito demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- pruviĝito turn out; to manifest
- provito put to the test, to make trial of
Estonian tõestama
- tõestamato demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Finnish todistaa, näyttää toteen
- todistaato demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- näyttää toteento demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- paljastuato turn out; to manifest
- osoittautuato turn out; to manifest
French prouver, se révéler
- prouverto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- se révélerto turn out; to manifest
- s’avérerto turn out; to manifest
German beweisen, prüfen
- beweisento demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- prüfento demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- sich herausstellento turn out; to manifest
- sich zeigento turn out; to manifest
Greek αποδεικνύω
- αποδεικνύω (apodeiknýo)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Hebrew הוכיח
- הוכיח (hokhíakh)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Hindi प्रमाणित करना, साबित करना
- प्रमाणित करना (pramāṇit karnā)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- साबित करना (sābit karnā)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Hungarian bizonyít
- bizonyítto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Icelandic sannreyna
- sannreynato demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Indonesian membuktikan, menguji
- membuktikanto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- mengujito put to the test, to make trial of
Italian dimostrare, provare
- dimostrareto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- provareto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- manifestareto turn out; to manifest
- dimostrareto turn out; to manifest
- testareto put to the test, to make trial of
- provareto put to the test, to make trial of
Japanese 証明する
- 証明する (shōmei-suru)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Korean 증명하다
- 증명하다 (jeungmyeonghada)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Latin probō, arguō
- probōto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- arguōto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- perīclitorto put to the test, to make trial of
Māori whakatūturu, hāpono
- whakatūturuto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- hāponoto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- whakatūturuto ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify
Persian اثبات کردن
- اثبات کردن (esbât kardan)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Polish dowodzić, udowadniać
- dowodzićto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- udowadniaćto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Portuguese provar, demonstrar
- provarto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- demonstrarto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- provarto put to the test, to make trial of
- experimentarto put to the test, to make trial of
- validarto ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify
- comprovarto ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify
Romanian proba, dovedi
- probato demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- dovedito demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- stabilito demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- arătato demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Russian дока́зывать, доказа́ть
- дока́зывать (dokázyvatʹ)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- доказа́ть (dokazátʹ)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- ока́зываться (okázyvatʹsja)to turn out; to manifest
- оказа́ться (okazátʹsja)to turn out; to manifest
Spanish demostrar, probar
- demostrarto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- probarto put to the test, to make trial of
- comprobarto ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify
Swahili hakiki
- hakikito demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Swedish visa, bevisa
- visato demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- bevisato demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Tagalog diyamahin
- diyamahinto put to the test, to make trial of
Thai พิสูจน์
- พิสูจน์ (pí-sùut)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Turkish ispat etmek, kanıtlamak
- ispat etmekto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- kanıtlamakto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- ispatlamakto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Ukrainian дока́зувати, доказа́ти
- дока́зувати (dokázuvaty)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- доказа́ти (dokazáty)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- дово́дити (dovódyty)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
- довести́ (dovestý)to demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Vietnamese chứng minh
- chứng minhto demonstrate that something is true; to give proof for
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with prove
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
prove. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prove
“prove.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prove. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “prove,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prove.
Source: prove on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.