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
Ellis summoned Bovino to testify Tuesday after plaintiffs accused him of throwing a tear gas canister into a crowd of demonstrators without justification or warning – a characterization DHS has refuted.
—
Devan Cole, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Across the three hearings, several witnesses – including journalists and high-ranking military members – have testified about shadowy military programs to retrieve and study not only interstellar alien craft, but the extraterrestrial pilots themselves.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Congress was moved to act at the urging of the major pro leagues’ commissioners, who testified in 1991 that sports betting undermined the integrity of games and invited corrupt influences.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The outlet further reported that an investigator testified during the trial, saying Benkired stopped at a cafe minutes after leaving the building with the container and spoke with a man who asked her what was inside it.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for testify
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Devan Cole, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Across the three hearings, several witnesses – including journalists and high-ranking military members – have testified about shadowy military programs to retrieve and study not only interstellar alien craft, but the extraterrestrial pilots themselves.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Congress was moved to act at the urging of the major pro leagues’ commissioners, who testified in 1991 that sports betting undermined the integrity of games and invited corrupt influences.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The outlet further reported that an investigator testified during the trial, saying Benkired stopped at a cafe minutes after leaving the building with the container and spoke with a man who asked her what was inside it.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for testify
Cite this Entry
“Testify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testify. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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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