confirm

play

verb con·firm \kən-ˈfərm\

Definition of confirm

transitive verb
1 : to give approval to : ratify confirm a treaty
2 : to make firm or firmer : strengthen confirm one's resolve
3 : to administer the rite of confirmation to
4 : to give new assurance of the validity of : remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable fact confirm a rumor confirm an order

confirmability

play \kən-ˌfər-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

confirmable

play \kən-ˈfər-mə-bəl\ adjective

See confirm defined for English-language learners

See confirm defined for kids

Examples of confirm in a Sentence

The tests confirmed the doctors' suspicions of cancer.
The attack confirmed her worst fears about the neighborhood.
The award confirmed her status as one of the great movie actresses.
The dentist's office called to confirm your appointment for tomorrow.
We have a reservation for you for tomorrow night. Please call to confirm.

Recent Examples of confirm from the Web

But the phone number is associated with several Web sites advertising a female escort based in Tampa, Fla., USA TODAY Sports has independently confirmed.

— dan wolken, The Courier-Journal, "Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze made call to number tied to escort service," 20 July 2017
The USDA laboratory in Aimes, Iowa confirmed the L-type BSE result in Alabama after the cow was observed exhibiting symptoms at an Alabama livestock market and died at that location.

— dennis pillion, AL.com, "What is 'atypical' mad cow? Alabama's bovine spongiform encephalopathy case explained," 19 July 2017
A spokesman for BYU-Idaho confirmed to The Post that Robertson will not be teaching next semester.

— samantha schmidt, idahostatesman, "Mormon university instructor says her firing surprised her," 19 July 2017
A video tweeted Monday by Kasino showed him and other people in a room with a dog that Whitehead confirmed to be his.

— stephen schroats, star-telegram, "Cowboys receiver’s dog-napping saga includes an odd twist," 18 July 2017
In an Instagram post this weekend, Lawson shared a few choice stanzas by the 13th-century poet Rumi, seemingly an indirect way of confirming that was Beyoncé and Jay Z's inspiration behind the moniker for Rumi Carter.

— melissa minton, Glamour, "The Inspiration for Rumi Carter's Name Was Just Explained by Tina Knowles," 17 July 2017
Investigators were unable to confirm Sosa's account of returning to the accident scene, the affidavit said.

— dave altimari, courant.com, "Psychiatrist Wants Accelerated Rehabilitation In Deadly Hit-And-Run," 12 July 2017
If confirmed by the Senate, Quarles will be in a key position to oversee any changes to banking regulations.

— martin crutsinger, The Seattle Times, "Trump taps Randal Quarles for Federal Reserve board," 10 July 2017
But as confirmed by Taquet and an unpublished field map from the expedition, the Venice Ouranosaurus contains at least part of what paleontologists call a paratype –

— Scientific American Blog Network, "On the Trail of a Dinosaur Sail," 10 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confirm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of confirm

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunfermer, from Latin confirmare, from com- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm

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First Known Use: 13th century

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Synonym Discussion of confirm

confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate mean to attest to the truth or validity of something. confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact. confirmed the reports corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established. witnesses corroborated his story substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention. the claims have yet to be substantiated verify implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at. all statements of fact in the article have been verified authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion. handwriting experts authenticated the diaries validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof. validated the hypothesis by experiments

CONFIRM Defined for English Language Learners

confirm

play

verb

Definition of confirm for English Language Learners

: to state or show that (something) is true or correct
: to tell someone that something has definitely happened or is going to happen : to make (something) definite or official
: to make (something) stronger or more certain : to cause (someone) to believe (something) more strongly

CONFIRM Defined for Kids

confirm

play

verb con·firm \kən-ˈfərm\

Definition of confirm for Students

confirmed

;

confirming

1 : to make sure of the truth of Their arrest confirms my suspicion.
2 : to make firm or firmer (as in a habit, in faith, or in intention) : strengthen The job at the shelter confirmed her intention to become a veterinarian.
3 : approve 2, accept Senators confirmed the treaty.
4 : to perform a ceremony admitting a person into a church or synagogue

Law Dictionary

confirm

transitive verb con·firm

Legal Definition of confirm

1a : to make valid by necessary formal approval the debtor's chapter 13 plan confirmed by the court b : to vote approval of confirm a nomination
2 : to give formal acknowledgment of receipt of
3 : to remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable fact a consent decree confirming Capt. Brown's right to his cargo — W. G. Young