Prove

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɹuːv/
• Rhymes: -uːv

From Middle English proven, from Old English prōfian ("to esteem, regard as, evince, try, prove"), from Late Latin probō ("test, try, examine, approve, show to be good or fit, prove", verb.), from probus ("good, worthy, excellent"), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bhwo- ("being in front, prominent"), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-, *per- ("toward") + Proto-Indo-European *bhu- ("to be"). Influenced by Old French prover, from the same Latin source. Displaced native Middle English sothen ("to prove"), from Old English sōþian ("to prove"). More at for, be, soothe.

Alternative forms

• proove

Full definition of prove

Verb

1. (transitive) To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for.
• 2012, August 5, Nathan Rabin, TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15; originally aired 02/11/1993), Valentine’s Day means different things for different people. For Homer, it means forking over a hundred dollars for a dusty box of chocolates at the Kwik-E-Mart after characteristically forgetting the holiday yet again. For Ned, it’s another opportunity to prove his love for his wife. Most germane to the episode, for Lisa, Valentine’s Day means being the only person in her entire class to give Ralph a Valentine after noticing him looking crestfallen and alone at his desk.
• 2013-06-07, Gary Younge, Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution, WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets. They also exposed the blatant discrepancy between the west's professed values and actual foreign policies.
2. I will prove that my method is more effective than yours.
3. (intransitive) To turn out; to manifest.
   It proved to be a cold day.
4. (copulative) To turn out to be.
• 2012, May 5, Phil McNulty, Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool, He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on, with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.
5. Have an exit strategy should your calculations prove incorrect.
6. (transitive) To put to the test, to make trial of.
   They took the experimental car to the proving-grounds.
   The exception proves the rule.
   The hypothesis has not been proven to our satisfaction.
7. To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify.to prove a will
8. (archaic) To experience
• SpenserWhere she, captived long, great woes did prove.
9. (printing, dated, transitive) To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of.to prove a page

Derived terms

Related terms

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /pɹəʊv/

Simple past form of proove, conjugated in the Germanic strong declension, on the pattern of choose → chose.

Verb

1. prove

   (simple past of proove)