claim

¹claim

verb \ˈklām\

Definition of CLAIM

transitive verb

1

a : to ask for especially as a right <claimed the inheritance> b : to call for : require <this matter claims our attention> c : take 16b <the accident claimed her life>

2

: to take as the rightful owner

3

a : to assert in the face of possible contradiction : maintain <claimed that he'd been cheated> b : to claim to have <organization … which claims 11,000 … members — Rolling Stone> c : to assert to be rightfully one's own <claimed responsibility for the attack>

— claim·able \ˈklā-mə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of CLAIM

1. He claims a connection to British royalty.
2. The organization claims 10,000 members.
3. The terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
4. New Yorkers proudly claim the artist as one of their own.
5. Both of them claimed credit for the idea.
6. No one ever claimed authorship for the poem.
7. You should claim compensation for the hours you worked.
8. No heirs came forward to claim the inheritance.

Origin of CLAIM

Middle English, from Anglo-French claimer, clamer, from Latin clamare to cry out, shout; akin to Latin calare to call — more at low

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CLAIM

Synonyms: affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, contend, declare, insist, maintain, profess, protest, purport, warrant, put forth

Antonyms: deny, gainsay

Related Words: announce, broadcast, proclaim; argue, rationalize, reason; confirm, justify, vindicate; defend, persevere, support, uphold; reaffirm, reassert

Near Antonyms: abandon; disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate; challenge, dispute, question; confute, disprove, rebut, refute; contradict, counter

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