verb (used with object),proved,proved or prov·en,prov·ing.
to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument: to prove one's claim.
Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate.
to give demonstration of by action.
to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.: to prove ore.
to show (oneself) to have the character or ability expected of one, especially through one's actions.
Mathematics. to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
Also proof. Printing. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
Archaic. to experience.
verb (used without object),proved,proved or prov·en,prov·ing.
to turn out: The experiment proved to be successful.
to be found by trial or experience to be: His story proved false.
(of dough) to rise to a specified lightness: Leave covered until it has proved.
Origin of prove
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English proven, from Old French prover, from Latin probāre “to try, test, prove, approve,” derivative of probus “good.” See probity
SYNONYMS FOR prove
1 demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR prove ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR prove
1 disprove.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR prove ON THESAURUS.COM
usage note for prove
Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove : Events have proved (or proven ) him wrong. As a modifier, proven is by far the more common: a proven fact.
historical usage of prove
The idiom “The exception proves the rule” comes direct from the Roman statesman, lawyer, orator, and man of letters Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 b.c.) in a speech he wrote and delivered, Pro Balbo, in 56 b.c., as defense counsel for Lucius Cornelius Balbo Major (“Senior”). The full Latin sentence is exceptiō probat rēgulam in cāsibus non exceptīs “The exception tests the rule in cases that are not excepted,” which makes clear the implied existence of a general rule: for example, “No parking on Saturdays and Sundays” implies that parking is allowed the other five days of the week. Most often, however, the amputated sentence “The exception proves the rule” allows the meaning to be “The exception validates the rule.”
prover,nounhalf-proved,adjectivehalf-proven,adjectivenon·prov·a·ble,adjectiveo·ver·prove,verb (used with object),o·ver·proved,o·ver·proved or o·ver·prov·en,o·ver·prov·ing.pre·prove,verb (used with object),pre·proved,pre·proved or pre·prov·en,pre·prov·ing.self-proving,adjectivesem·i·prov·en,adjectiveun·prov·a·ble,adjectiveun·proved,adjectiveun·prov·en,adjectiveun·prov·ing,adjectivewell-proved,adjectivewell-proven,adjective
(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
to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis
lawto establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)
to show (oneself) able or courageous
(copula)to be found or shown (to be)this has proved useless; he proved to be invaluable
printingto take a trial impression of (type, etc)
(intr)(of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking