establish

play

verb es·tab·lish \ i-ˈsta-blish \

Definition of establish

transitive verb

1 :to institute (something, such as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement

2 obsolete :settle 7

3 a :to make firm or stable

b :to introduce and cause to grow and multiply

establish grass on pasturelands

4 a :to bring into existence :found

established a republic

b :bring about, effect

established friendly relations

5 a :to put on a firm basis :set up

establish his son in business

b :to put into a favorable position

c :to gain full recognition or acceptance of

the role established her as a star

6 :to make (a church) a national or state institution

7 :to put beyond doubt :prove

established my innocence

—

establishable

play \i-ˈsta-bli-shə-bəl\ adjective

—

establisher

play \i-ˈsta-bli-shər\ noun

See establish defined for English-language learners

See establish defined for kids

Examples of establish in a Sentence

The film established her as a star.
She established a reputation as a hard worker.
The word is now established as part of the English language.
The company has established itself as a leader in the industry.
As a young doctor he worked hard to establish himself in the community.
They want to establish their children in the family business.
She established a system of tracking expenses more accurately.
The two countries established a mutual trade agreement.
establishing a link between diet and cancer
Investigators are trying to establish if anyone knew about these problems before the accident.

Recent Examples of establish from the Web

Former President Hugo Chavez established an annual program in 2005 to supply subsidized heating oil to lower-income homes in the United States via Citgo.

— fabiola zerpa, Bloomberg.com, "Venezuela Offers $5 Million to Aid Harvey Victims Via Citgo," 30 Aug. 2017
The school established a collection to help relief efforts, informed students during morning announcements and planned to promote the fundraiser during its open house on Wednesday night.

— steve zimmerman, Daily Southtown, "Orland-area students getting an education in how to help," 30 Aug. 2017
However the line, dubbed Khroma, was almost immediately swept up in a legal controversy over the name itself: Back in 2004, another brand, Kroma Beauty, established itself as cosmetics company.

— rachel jacoby zoldan, Teen Vogue, "Kim Kardashian Wins Lawsuit Over Former Makeup Line," 25 Aug. 2017
No timetable for construction has been established, and no tenants have been signed, according to a spokeswoman for Al Neyer.

— randy tucker, Cincinnati.com, "Here's what's coming next for Oakley," 25 Aug. 2017
All three have established themselves as conservative voices in the Legislature.

— jonathan shorman, kansascity, "Kansas state Sen. Caryn Tyson announces a run for Congress," 24 Aug. 2017
Orgeron, who has a Ph.D. in high energy particle physics and for a time worked analyzing crop forecasts for Mars, the candy company, was brought into the family business to help establish new lines of liftboat customers.

— justin nobel, Longreads, "Why Oil-Loving Louisiana Should Embrace America’s Coming Offshore Wind Boom," 23 Aug. 2017
Simmons is one of the dozens of players in the Gary 4 Life basketball league, an anti-violence initiative established in 2014 aimed at curbing the city's high crime rates.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "Gary 4 Life basketball league courts anti-violence efforts," 22 Aug. 2017
GoFundMe account has been established for the family of an Alabama soldier believed to have died when his military helicopter went down last week off the coast of Hawaii.

— leada gore, AL.com, "GoFundMe established for Alabama soldier missing after Hawaii helicopter crash," 22 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of establish

Middle English establissen, from Anglo-French establiss-, stem of establir, from Latin stabilire, from stabilis stable

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

establish Synonyms

Synonyms

demonstrate, prove, show, substantiate

Antonyms

disprove

Related Words

attest, authenticate, bear out, document, evidence, support, sustain, uphold; confirm, corroborate, justify, validate, verify

Near Antonyms

confute, discredit, invalidate, rebut, refute

ESTABLISH Defined for English Language Learners

establish

play

verb

Definition of establish for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone or something) to be widely known and accepted
: to put (someone or something) in a position, role, etc., that will last for a long time
: to begin or create (something that is meant to last for a long time)

ESTABLISH Defined for Kids

establish

play

verb es·tab·lish \ i-ˈsta-blish \

Definition of establish for Students

established; establishing

1 :to bring into being :found

They established a colony.

2 :to put beyond doubt :prove

She established her innocence.

Law Dictionary

establish

transitive verb es·tab·lish

legal Definition of establish

1 :to institute (as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement

we the people of the United States…do ordain and establish this Constitution
—U.S. Constitution preamble

2 :to make firm or stable

3 :to bring into existence :found

Congress shall have power…to establish post offices and post roads
—U.S. Constitution art. I

; specifically :to found (a national bank) pursuant to a charter

4 :to make (a church) a national or state institution — see also establishment, establishment clause

5 :to put beyond doubt :prove

6 :to place in a position of being accepted or followed

a rule established by case law

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ESTABLISH Defined for English Language Learners

establish

Definition of establish for English Language Learners

ESTABLISH Defined for Kids

establish

Definition of establish for Students

Law Dictionary

establish

legal Definition of establish

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