prove

verb

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\ ˈprüv

proved; proved or proven\ ˈprü-vən

, British also ˈprō- \; proving\ ˈprü-viŋ

Definition of prove

transitive verb

1a : to establish the existence, truth, or validity of (as by evidence or logic) prove a theorem the charges were never proved in court

b : to demonstrate as having a particular quality or worth proved herself a great actress the vaccine has been proven effective after years of tests

2 : to show (oneself) to be worthy or capable eager to prove myself in the new job

3a : to test the truth, validity, or genuineness of the exception proves the rule prove a will at probate

b : to test the worth or quality of specifically : to compare against a standard —sometimes used with up or out

c : to check the correctness of (something, such as an arithmetic result)

4 archaic : to learn or find out by experience

intransitive verb

: to turn out especially after trial or test the new drug proved effective

Other Words from prove Synonyms & Antonyms proved or proven?: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about prove

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proved or proven?: Usage Guide

The past participle proven, originally the past participle of preve, a Middle English variant of prove that survived in Scotland, has gradually worked its way into standard English over the past three and a half centuries. It seems to have first become established in legal use and to have come only slowly into literary use. Tennyson was one of its earliest frequent users, probably for metrical reasons. It was disapproved by 19th century grammarians, one of whom included it in a list of "words that are not words." Surveys made some 50 or 60 years ago indicated that proved was about four times as frequent as proven. But our evidence from the last 30 or 35 years shows this no longer to be the case. As a past participle proven is now about as frequent as proved in all contexts. As an attributive adjective proved or proven gas reserves proven is much more common than proved.

Examples of prove in a Sentence

The charges against him were never proved in court. The government failed to prove its case. It could not be proven that the suspect stole the money. A person who is charged with a crime is considered innocent until proved guilty. mathematicians trying to prove a theorem To prove her point, she got out the old research. The tests proved the vaccine to be effective. Her second album was a hit that proved her critics wrong.

Recent Examples on the Web The potential return to activities like air travel has sparked questions about how people will prove they’ve been vaccinated. — Eve Sneider, Wired, "New Travel Guidelines, Real-World Vaccine Efficacy, and More Coronavirus News," 2 Apr. 2021 When the man’s answers don’t prove satisfactory, Sean douses him and the rope that’s holding him in gasoline, lights them on fire, and gazes on admiringly as the rope burns away, sending his victim’s fiery, agonized body plummeting to his death. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, "‘Gangs of London’: Wham, Bam, Thank You, Man," 1 Apr. 2021 That could prove to be a difficult deadline to meet, Ms. Runge and others said during a panel on the anti-money-laundering legislation. — Dylan Tokar, WSJ, "Questions Linger Over Corporate Ownership Registry for Industry," 1 Apr. 2021 Kavanaugh wrote that no evidence had been presented which could prove that assertion. — Nicholas Rowan, Washington Examiner, "Supreme Court allows FCC to relax media ownership restrictions," 1 Apr. 2021 But most other Democrats believe repealing the tax would prove to be wildly too expensive. — Jennifer Haberkorn, Los Angeles Times, "Biden’s infrastructure bill will face uphill battle in Congress," 1 Apr. 2021 Harrison said police would still arrest people for drug distribution, if officers witness a hand-to-hand transaction or can prove that drugs found in someone’s possession is packaged or a size beyond personal consumption. — Justin Fenton, baltimoresun.com, "‘It’s no gang wars’: Baltimore Police tell City Council rise in shootings due to petty disputes, guns," 31 Mar. 2021 Exhausting and dangerous, as statistics and recent events prove over and over again, with little change. — Malia Griggs, SELF, "21 Asian American-Owned Small Businesses You Can Support Today," 30 Mar. 2021 Minnesota Judge Peter Cahill has impressed on jurors the imperative of separating their own feelings about race and Chauvin from what prosecutors can prove with evidence in the courtroom. — Stephen Collinson And Caitlin Hu, CNN, "Outside the courtroom, the trial over George Floyd's death is seen as a test of the US itself," 30 Mar. 2021

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