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Definition of 'prove'

Word Frequency

prove

(pruːv )
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense proves , present participle proving , past tense proved , past participle proved , past participle proven
1. link verb
If something proves to be true or to have a particular quality, it becomes clear after a period of time that it is true or has that quality.
None of the rumours has ever been proved to be true. [VERB to-infinitive]
In the past this process of transition has often proven difficult. [VERB adjective]
...an experiment which was to prove a source of inspiration for many years to come. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: turn out, come out, end up, be found to be   More Synonyms of prove
2. verb
If you prove that something is true, you show by means of argument or evidence that it is definitely true.
You brought this charge. You prove it! [VERB noun]
The results prove that regulation of the salmon farming industry is inadequate. [VERB that]
...trying to prove how groups of animals have evolved. [VERB wh]
That made me hopping mad and determined to prove him wrong. [VERB noun adjective]
History will prove him to have been right all along. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
...a proven cause of cancer. [VERB-ed]
3. verb
If you prove yourself to have a certain good quality, you show by your actions that you have it.
Margaret proved herself to be a good mother. [VERB pronoun-reflexive to-infinitive]
As a composer he proved himself adept at large dramatic forms. [V pron-refl adj]
A man needs time to prove himself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Few would argue that this team has experience and proven ability. [VERB-ed]
4. 
prove a point
More Synonyms of prove
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'prove'

Word Frequency

prove in British

(pruːv )
verbWord forms: proves, proving, proved, proved or proven (mainly tr)
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. (intransitive)
(of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking
8. archaic
to undergo
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
provable (ˈprovable)
  adjective
provability (ˌprovaˈbility)
  noun
provably (ˈprovably)
  adverb
Word origin of 'prove'
C12: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest
Word Frequency

prove in American

(pruv ; pro̅ov)
verb transitiveWord forms: proved, proved or ˈproven, ˈproving
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.  Ancient Mathematics
to test or verify the correctness of (a calculation, etc.)
7.  Printing
to take a proof of (type, etc.)
verb intransitive
8. 
to be found or shown by experience or trial; turn out to be
a guess that proved right
9.  Archaic
to make trial
Idioms:
the exception proves the rule
prove out
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
provability (ˌprovaˈbility)
  noun or ˈprovableness
provable (ˈprovable)
  adjective
provably (ˈprovably)
  adverb
prover (ˈprover)
  noun see exception
Word origin of 'prove'
ME proven < OFr prover < L probare: see probe

Example sentences containing 'prove'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Perhaps the same will prove true for legal cannabis. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The team emphasised that their study could not prove that anxiety caused heart disease. Times, Sunday Times (2016)That was a difficult proposition to prove. Times, Sunday Times (2016)French presidential pardons often prove controversial. Times, Sunday Times (2016)This is a weaker race and he can prove too good for Aso. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Everything that was outlined during the meeting in America has proved true. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Your own show proves it. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The dressings proved so good that they are now available on prescription through the NHS. The Sun (2016)November has often proved an unhappy time of year for Arsenal under Wenger. Times, Sunday Times (2016)People like to share, though, and the growth of social networks over the past decade has proved that younger generations like to share more than any other. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The grey area lies in proving your ability to drive is impaired. Times, Sunday Times (2010)The best pieces have proved a good investment. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Why is it often difficult to prove that a disease or condition resulted from workplace exposure? McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)This may explain why the show is already proving hugely popular. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Leicester have spent all season proving many of the things we hold true to be badly wrong. Times, Sunday Times (2016)We have proved highly adept at using technology to stress ourselves. Times, Sunday Times (2010)The past proves the richer area of study. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Yet it might prove the richest source of recruitment. Times, Sunday Times (2010)The video evidence from our experiment proves just how bad men are at taking a sneaky peek. The Sun (2011)We will soon see whether this proves to be true. Christianity Today (2000)When cigarettes are proven to cause lung cancer we can bring in a smoking ban. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It has been about proving my ability and helping the team. The Sun (2009)But it could be an unexpected arrival that proves so good for the family. The Sun (2009)So this show proved to be a bit of a departure. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Iran has proved adept at nuclear brinkmanship in the past and may do so again. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Mumsnet users have in the past proved themselves to be intolerant of spin and waffle. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The careful historian soon learns that juicy stories often have to be jettisoned when sources prove unreliable. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The top tips and facts are crucial and explain what the experiments prove. Times, Sunday Times (2012)But in the wider human context the opposite has generally proved true. Times, Sunday Times (2008)The researchers acknowledged that the study did not prove cause and effect. Times, Sunday Times (2014)This would have proved a difficult operation by other processes. Times, Sunday Times (2014)He said that the party had proved its ability to do well without mounting a conventional campaign. Times, Sunday Times (2015)

Word Lists

Law terms

Trends of 'prove'

Very Common. prove is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'prove'

British English: prove /pruːv/ VERB
bear out If something proves to be true, it becomes clear after a period of time that it is true.
The reports proved to be true.
  • American English: prove
  • Arabic: يُثَبِّت
  • Brazilian Portuguese: provar
  • Chinese: 证明
  • Croatian: dokazati
  • Czech: ukázat se jakým
  • Danish: bevise
  • Dutch: bewijzen
  • European Spanish: probar
  • Finnish: todistaa
  • French: s’avérer
  • German: beweisen
  • Greek: αποδεικνύω
  • Italian: dimostrarsi
  • Japanese: 立証する
  • Korean: 입증하다
  • Norwegian: bevise
  • Polish: udowodnić
  • European Portuguese: provar
  • Romanian: a dovedi
  • Russian: доказывать
  • Spanish: probar
  • Swedish: jäsa
  • Thai: พิสูจน์
  • Turkish: kanıtlamak
  • Ukrainian: доводити
  • Vietnamese: chứng minh
British English: prove VERB
argue If you prove that something is true, you show by means of argument or evidence that it is definitely true.
You brought this charge. You prove it!
  • American English: prove
  • Brazilian Portuguese: comprovar
  • Chinese: 证明
  • European Spanish: demostrar
  • French: prouver
  • German: beweisen
  • Italian: provare
  • Japanese: 立証する
  • Korean: 증명하다
  • European Portuguese: comprovar
  • Spanish: demostrar

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Nearby words of 'prove'

  • provand
  • provant
  • provascular
  • prove
  • prove a point
  • prove out
  • proveable

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'P'

Related Terms of 'prove'

  • prove out
  • prove a point
  • make/prove one's point
  • ˈre-ˌprove

Source

Definition of prove from the Collins English Dictionary

Noun phrases with several determiners

Most noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more, they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four groups, depending on what other determiners the...
Read more about 'Noun phrases with several determiners'
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Scrabble score for 'prove': 10
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