verify

verb

ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce verify (audio)
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 noun
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

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 How does Uber, DraftKings and Pornhub verify your age? Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 The video is helping to dispel one of this year’s most enduring conspiracy theories regarding her health and whereabouts while recovering from abdominal surgery — though skepticism still abounds, as the Palace has yet to verify or comment on the video. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 Ballots are received, sorted and verified at the LA County ballot processing facility. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024 The Washington Post was able to verify the location but not the date of the video. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 The identities of the military personnel who've sent those mail-in ballots should be verified before the ballots are counted, the motion said. Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2024 The organizations that verify certificates should play a role in establishing the rules, but so should governments. Paul Winters, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2024 Once your signature is successfully verified, a bipartisan team separates your ballot from its early ballot envelope. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2024 In yet another case, the fraudster pretended to be calling from a credit bureau to verify the victim’s Social Security number. Tara Siegel Bernard, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'verify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of verify was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near verify

Cite this Entry

“Verify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verify. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

verify

verb
ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce verify (audio)
verified; verifying
: to prove or check the truth, accuracy, or reality of
verify the claim
verifier noun
Etymology

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 How to pronounce verify (audio)
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

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

More from Merriam-Webster on verify

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