verify

1 of 2

verb

ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī 

verified; verifying

transitive verb

1

: to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of

verify the claim

2

: to confirm or substantiate in law by oath

verifier

ˈver-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

verifier

2 of 2

noun

ver·​i·​fi·​er -ˌfī(ə)r 

-īə

plural -s

1

: one that searches for or discovers verification

2

: one that serves as verification

the problem of verifying beliefs … where the verifier lies beyond experience

—J. W. Yolton

3

: a machine used to check the correctness of the previous recording of data (as by punching cards or magnetizing tape)

Synonyms of verify

Verb

• confirm

Choose the Right Synonym for verify

confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate mean to attest to the truth or validity of something.

confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

verify implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at.

all statements of fact in the article have been verified

authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

Examples of verify in a Sentence

Verb

She verified her flight number.

He verified that the item was in stock.

Can you verify whether I am scheduled to work or not?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But if physical and digital watermarks were meant to verify authenticity, AI watermarks serve more to signal inauthenticity. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Activists presented the figures and conclusions at Tuesday's event and were not independently verified by CBS News Atlanta as part of the rally coverage. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Once King County Elections verifies the voters and signatures, the Director of Elections sets a special date between 45 and 90 days after the petition is certified. — Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Entertainment Weekly could not verify the identity of the person in the texts shared by Rose. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English verifien, borrowed from Anglo-French verifier, borrowed from Medieval Latin vērificāre, from Latin vērus "true" + -ficāre -fy — more at very entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for verify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

verify

verb

ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī 

verified; verifying

: to prove or check the truth, accuracy, or reality of

verify the claim

verifier

-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English verifien "to establish the truth of," from early French verifier (same meaning), from Latin verificare (same meaning), from earlier verus "true" — related to verdict, very

Legal Definition

verify

transitive verb

ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī 

verified; verifying

1

: to confirm or substantiate by oath, affidavit, or deposition

verify a motion

2

: to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of

Etymology

Transitive verb

Anglo-French verifier, from Medieval Latin verificare, from Latin verus true + -ficare to make