Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense testifies, present participle testifying, past tense, past participle testified
1. verb
When someone testifies in a court of law, they give a statement of what they saw someone do or what they know of a situation, after having promised to tell the truth.
Several eyewitnesses testified that they saw him run from the scene. [VERB that]
Eva testified to having seen Herndon with his gun on the stairs. [VERB + to]
He hopes to have his 12-year prison term reduced by testifying against his formercolleagues. [V + against/for/about]
[Also VERB]
2. verb
If one thing testifiesto another, it supports the belief that the second thing is true.
[formal]
Recent excavations testify to the presence of cultivated inhabitants on the hillduring the Arthurian period. [VERB + to]
More Synonyms of testify
testify in British English
(ˈtɛstɪˌfaɪ)
verbWord forms: -fies, -fying or -fied
1. (when tr, may take a clause as object)
to state (something) formally as a declaration of fact
I testify that I know nothing about him
2. law
to declare or give (evidence) under oath, esp in court
3. (whenintr, often foll by to)
to be evidence (of); serve as witness (to)
the money testified to his good faith
4. (transitive)
to declare or acknowledge openly
Derived forms
testification (ˌtestifiˈcation)
noun
testifier (ˈtestiˌfier)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin testificārī, from testis witness
testify in American English
(ˈtɛstəˌfaɪ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈtestiˌfied or ˈtestiˌfying
1.
to make a serious declaration to substantiate a fact; bear witness or give evidence, esp. under oath in court
2.
to be evidence or an indication
a look testifying to his impatience
verb transitive
3.
to bear witness to; affirm; declare, esp. under oath in court
4.
to be evidence of; indicate
5. Archaic
to profess or proclaim publicly
Derived forms
testification (ˌtestifiˈcation)
noun
testifier (ˈtestiˌfier)
noun
Word origin
ME testifien < L testificari < testis, a witness (prob. < *tri-sto-, standing as a third < tri-, tri- + base of stare, stand) + facere, to make, do1
Examples of 'testify' in a sentence
testify
The butler testified about a string of women being entertained by the duke at the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But my own family can testify to one little piece of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
So he was obliged to appear in court to testify to the financial arrangements.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He says he has a key witness ready to testify if the case goes to court.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Neither husband nor wife testified in court.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He has always protested his innocence and scores of people testified in court in his defence.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But in that day women were not allowed to testify in a court of law.
Christianity Today (2000)
She has also let it be known that she is willing to testify in court over the claims.
The Sun (2011)
He added that suspects were routinely arrested before being released because of a lack of evidence or witnesses willing to testify.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Just one man-of-the-match award testifies to his limited impact.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As anybody who has been to one will testify, tribute concerts can be a mixed bag.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The defence produced witnesses who testified to the detailed arrangements for moving and lodging the cash in Cypriot banks.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But convictions were secured against just 50, mainly because witnesses refused to testify against the rest.
The Sun (2009)
An expert witness testified that the $2.5 million would be worth more than $8 million today.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Unless two independent witnesses testified to an overt act of treason as thus defined, the accused should be declared innocent in the light of this charge.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
This action was clearly criminal, but when the British attempted to bring the culprits to justice no one would testify against them.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
If D must remove her veil for giving evidence, why not when other witnesses testify?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I also had medical experts who testified about her cyst and how I had probably saved her life.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
testify
British English: testify VERB
When someone testifies in a court of law, they give a statement, after promising to tell the truth.
Several eyewitnesses testified that they saw the car in the area.
American English: testify
Brazilian Portuguese: depor
Chinese: 作证在法庭上
European Spanish: prestar declaración
French: témoigner
German: aussagen
Italian: testimoniare
Japanese: 証言する
Korean: 증언하다
European Portuguese: depor
Latin American Spanish: prestar declaración
Chinese translation of 'testify'
testify
(ˈtɛstɪfaɪ)
vi
(Law) 作证(證) (zuòzhèng)
vt
(Law)
to testify that ... 证(證)实(實) ... (zhèngshí ... )
to testify to sth[person]证(證)实(實)某事 (zhèngshí mǒushì) [fact]证(證)明某事 (zhèngmíng mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to declare or give evidence under oath, esp. in court
Several eye witnesses testified that they had seen the fight.
Synonyms
bear witness
state
Clearly state your address and telephone number.
swear
Alan swore that he would do everything in his power to help us.
certify
They have certified the document as genuine.
declare
They declare that there is no lawful impediment to the marriage.
witness
assert
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.
affirm
`The place is a dump,' she affirmed.
depose (law)
attest
Records attest to his long history of violence.
corroborate
I had access to a wide range of documents which corroborated the story.
vouch
evince
give testimony
asseverate (formal)
Opposites
dispute,
contradict
,
disprove
,
oppose
,
belie
,
gainsay (archaic, literary)
,
controvert
2 (verb)
Definition
to declare or give evidence under oath, esp. in court
Would she be willing to testify in court?
Synonyms
give evidence
attest
bear witness
His mother bore witness in court that he had been at home that night.
be a witness
give your testimony
make a deposition
depone (Scots law)
phrasal verb
See testify to something
Seeswear
Synonyms of 'testify'
testify
Explore 'testify' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attest
Definition
to affirm or prove the truth of
Records attest to his long history of violence.
Synonyms
testify,
show,
prove,
confirm,
display,
declare,
witness,
demonstrate,
seal,
swear,
exhibit,
warrant,
assert,
manifest,
give evidence,
invoke,
ratify,
affirm,
certify,
verify,
bear out,
substantiate,
corroborate,
bear witness,
authenticate,
vouch for,
evince (formal),
aver,
adjure
in the sense of certify
Definition
to guarantee (that certain required standards have been met)
They have certified the document as genuine.
Synonyms
confirm,
show,
declare,
guarantee,
witness,
assure,
endorse,
testify,
notify,
verify,
ascertain,
validate,
attest,
corroborate,
avow,
authenticate,
vouch for,
aver
in the sense of corroborate
Definition
to support (a fact or opinion) by giving proof
I had access to a wide range of documents which corroborated the story.
Synonyms
support,
establish,
confirm,
document,
sustain,
back up,
endorse,
ratify,
validate,
bear out,
substantiate,
authenticate
in the sense of declare
Definition
to state firmly and forcefully
They declare that there is no lawful impediment to the marriage.
Synonyms
testify,
state,
witness,
swear,
assert,
affirm,
certify,
attest,
bear witness,
vouch,
give testimony,
asseverate
in the sense of state
Definition
to express (something) in words
Clearly state your address and telephone number.
Synonyms
say,
report,
declare,
specify,
put,
present,
explain,
voice,
express,
assert,
utter,
articulate,
affirm,
expound,
enumerate,
propound,
aver,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of swear
Definition
to give evidence on oath in a law court
Alan swore that he would do everything in his power to help us.