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
No federal or state officials showed up to testify on behalf of the fusion centers.
—
Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Gosnell did not testify at his 2013 trial, but his defense attorney argued that none of the fetuses were born alive and that any movements were posthumous twitching or spasms, according to the AP.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Robert and Michael Bever had killed their parents, who a surviving sister testified were not physically abusive, and three younger siblings.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Arielle Konig testified against her husband, Gerhardt Konig.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for testify
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Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Gosnell did not testify at his 2013 trial, but his defense attorney argued that none of the fetuses were born alive and that any movements were posthumous twitching or spasms, according to the AP.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Robert and Michael Bever had killed their parents, who a surviving sister testified were not physically abusive, and three younger siblings.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Arielle Konig testified against her husband, Gerhardt Konig.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 24 Mar. 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 25 Mar. 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
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