释义 |
proveprove /pruv/ ●●● S2 W1 verb (past tense proved, past participle proved, proven /ˈpruvən/) ETYMOLOGYproveOrigin: 1100-1200 Old French prover, from Latin probare; ➔ PROBE2 VERB TABLEprove |
Present | I, you, we, they | prove | | he, she, it | proves | Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | proved | Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have proved, proven | | he, she, it | has proved, proven | Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had proved, proven | Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will prove | Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have proved, proven |
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Present | I | am proving | | he, she, it | is proving | | you, we, they | are proving | Past | I, he, she, it | was proving | | you, we, they | were proving | Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been proving | | he, she, it | has been proving | Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been proving | Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be proving | Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been proving |
► prove somebody right/wrong/innocent/guilty etc. They say I’m too old, but I’m going to prove them all wrong. ► prove somebody’s guilt/innocence The trial proved her innocence. ► prove (to be) useful/difficult etc. The recent revelations may prove to be embarrassing to the president. ► prove (to be) a disaster/problem/benefit etc. The design proved to be a success. THESAURUS to make clear that something is true or exists by providing facts or information► demonstrate to make clear that something is true or exists by providing facts or information: The study demonstrates the link between poverty and malnutrition. ► show show means the same as demonstrate but sounds more informal: The case shows that women still face discrimination at work. ► mean to be a clear sign that something has happened, or is true: The lights are on – that means he’s still up. ► indicate formal if scientific facts, tests, official figures, etc. indicate something, they show that something exists or is likely to be true: Research indicates that the drug may be linked to birth defects. ► suggest to show that something is probably true, even though there is no clear proof: The results suggest that small class size may improve learning. ► prove to show that something is definitely true: Researchers have not been able to prove there is a link between living near a power line and getting cancer. ► establish formal to prove something: Twin studies have established that most traits are partially influenced by genes. ► validate to demonstrate, especially officially, that something is legal or right by giving extra information or evidence: We will have to test the substance again to validate our original results. ► substantiate formal to give extra information that helps to demonstrate that something is true: Why doesn’t the prosecutor produce some evidence to substantiate the charge of murder? ► corroborate formal to help to demonstrate that what someone has said is true by adding your own evidence, experience, etc. Used in legal language: The man said he had seen Brown leave the building, and three other people corroborated his story. 1[transitive] to show that something is definitely true, especially by providing facts, information, etc. OPP disprove: You’re wrong and I can prove it.prove (that) Can you prove that you had nothing to do with it?prove somebody right/wrong/innocent/guilty etc. They say I’m too old, but I’m going to prove them all wrong.prove somebody’s guilt/innocence The trial proved her innocence.► see thesaurus at demonstrate2[linking verb] to show over time that someone or something is difficult, helpful, a problem, etc.: prove (to be) useful/difficult etc. The recent revelations may prove to be embarrassing to the president.prove (to be) a disaster/problem/benefit etc. The design proved to be a success.3prove yourself (also prove something) to show how good you are at doing something: When I started the job, I felt I had to prove myself. He’s always acting like he’s trying to prove something.4What is somebody trying to prove? spoken said when you are annoyed by someone’s actions and do not understand him or her5prove a/your point to do something it to show that you are right or that you can do something without having any other good reason: I’m not going to run the marathon just to prove a point.6[transitive] law to show that a will has been made in the correct way—provable adjective—provably adverb |