confirm
verb OPAL W
/kənˈfɜːm/
/kənˈfɜːrm/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they confirm | /kənˈfɜːm/ /kənˈfɜːrm/ |
| he / she / it confirms | /kənˈfɜːmz/ /kənˈfɜːrmz/ |
| past simple confirmed | /kənˈfɜːmd/ /kənˈfɜːrmd/ |
| past participle confirmed | /kənˈfɜːmd/ /kənˈfɜːrmd/ |
| -ing form confirming | /kənˈfɜːmɪŋ/ /kənˈfɜːrmɪŋ/ |
- to state or show that something is definitely true or correct, especially by providing evidence
- confirm something His guilty expression confirmed my suspicions.
- to confirm a diagnosis/report
- to confirm results/findings
- Rumours of job losses were later confirmed.
- We have yet to confirm the identities of the victims.
- She said she could not confirm or deny the allegations.
- The authorities refused to confirm any details.
- confirm (that)… Police sources confirmed that ten people had been arrested at the march.
- confirm to somebody/something that… A government official confirmed to the newspaper that Britain was pushing hard for an end to the arms embargo.
- confirm what/when, etc… Can you confirm what happened?
- it is confirmed that… It has been confirmed that an official complaint was made to the council.
Extra ExamplesTopics Scientific researchb1- I wanted to find a way to experimentally confirm the results.
- Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus.
- The Ministry of Defence confirmed the deaths of three soldiers.
- These new symptoms tend to confirm my original diagnosis.
- These results were independently confirmed in a study of 48 patients.
- Your veterinarian will suggest some tests to help confirm the diagnosis.
- Both teams played badly, which confirms the impression left by earlier games.
- The doctor confirmed my suspicions and prescribed an antibiotic.
- The results confirm the findings of our earlier research.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- just
- merely
- only
- …
- be able to
- be unable to
- can
- …
- to make a position, an agreement, etc. more definite or official; to establish somebody/something clearly
- confirm something Please write to confirm your reservation (= say that it is definite).
- After a six-month probationary period, her position was confirmed.
- confirm (that)… Has everyone confirmed (that) they’re coming?
- it is confirmed that… It has been confirmed that the meeting will take place next week.
- confirm somebody as something He was confirmed as captain for the rest of the season.
- confirm somebody in something I'm very happy to confirm you in your post.
Extra ExamplesTopics Discussion and agreementb2- The plans were officially confirmed yesterday.
- I booked online and rang later to confirm.
- It has been confirmed that Moore's next fight will be against Michael Jones.
- to make somebody feel or believe something even more strongly
- confirm something The walk in the mountains confirmed his fear of heights.
- confirm somebody in something This latest tragedy merely confirms my view that the law must be tightened.
- [usually passive] to perform the Christian or Jewish ceremony of confirmation
- be confirmed She was baptized when she was a month old and confirmed when she was thirteen.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French confermer, from Latin confirmare, from con- ‘together’ + firmare ‘strengthen’ (from firmus ‘firm’).