testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈte-stə-ˌfī 
testified; testifying
1
: to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact (as in a court)
2
a
: to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief : bear witness
b
: to serve as evidence or proof
3
: to express a personal conviction
2
: to declare under oath before a tribunal or officially constituted public body
3
Examples of testify in a Sentence
She refused to testify about who had given her the information.
She testified before Congress today.
He agreed to testify against his drug dealer.
He testified that he'd seen two people leave the building on the night of the murder.
These statistics testify that the program is working.
Several people testified during the revival meeting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Vega’s mother has said her daughter was scheduled to testify in the robbery case the day she was found dead.
—
Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 28 May 2026
Topline Former Attorney General Pam Bondi told CNN on Wednesday she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after leaving the Justice Department and is undergoing treatment, as the ex-AG is still expected to testify before Congress on Friday about her handling of the Epstein files.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Carey, the president and CEO of Hawthorne, testified that, through bankruptcy court, his business has been able to make payroll that was past due.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
The forum featured Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez, who testified that he had been forced to fire a police officer because their work permit renewal was not processed on time.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for testify
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 28 May 2026
Topline Former Attorney General Pam Bondi told CNN on Wednesday she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after leaving the Justice Department and is undergoing treatment, as the ex-AG is still expected to testify before Congress on Friday about her handling of the Epstein files.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Carey, the president and CEO of Hawthorne, testified that, through bankruptcy court, his business has been able to make payroll that was past due.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
The forum featured Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez, who testified that he had been forced to fire a police officer because their work permit renewal was not processed on time.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for testify
Cite this Entry
“Testify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testify. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈtes-tə-ˌfī
testified; testifying
1
a
: to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief
could testify to the student's devotion to her studies
b
: to make a formal statement of what one swears is true
testified in court
2
: to give outward proof : serve as a sign of
yawns testifying to fatigue
Legal Definition
testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈtes-tə-ˌfī
testified; testifying
: to make a solemn declaration under oath or affirmation for the purpose of establishing a fact : give testimony
: to declare in testimony
testifier
noun
Etymology
Latin testificari, from testis witness
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
