proveprove /pruːv/ ●●● S2 W1 verb (past tense proved, past participle proved or proven /ˈpruːvən/ especially American English) 
You’re wrong, and I can prove it.prove (that) Tests have proved that the system works.prove something to somebody I knew he had done it, but there was no way I could prove it to Eddie.prove somebody’s guilt/innocence He claims the police destroyed records that could prove the officer’s guilt.prove somebody wrong/innocent etc They say I’m too old, but I’m going to prove them all wrong. To prove his point (=show that he was right), he mentioned several other experiments which had produced similar results.GRAMMARYou prove something to someone: · I will prove to you that I’m right. ✗Don’t say: I will prove you that I’m right.2be [linking verb] if someone or something proves difficult, helpful, a problem etc, they are difficult, helpful, a problem etc: The recent revelations may prove embarrassing to the president.prove to be something The design proved to be a success.GRAMMAR: Linking verbsProve is a linking verb in this meaning. This type of verb links the subject of the sentence with an adjective or noun: · The task proved difficult.· He has proved a loyal friend. You can also say: · The task proved to be difficult.· He has proved to be a loyal friend.3prove yourself/prove something (to somebody) to show how good you are at doing something: When I first started this job, I felt I had to prove myself.4prove yourself (to be) something to show other people that you are a particular type of person: She’s proved herself to be a very reliable worker.5what is somebody trying to prove? spoken said when you are annoyed by someone’s actions and do not understand them6prove a point if someone does something to prove a point, they do it to show that they are right or that they can do something: I’m not going to run the marathon just to prove a point.7bread [intransitive] if dough (=unbaked bread mixture) proves, it rises and becomes light because of the yeast in it8law [transitive] law to show that a will has been made in the correct way—provable adjectiveCOLLOCATIONSnounsprove somebody’s guilt/innocence· There was no way she could prove her innocence.prove the existence of something· These pictures do not prove the existence of water on Mars.prove a theory· No evidence emerged to prove either theory.prove your case· The state had failed to prove its case.prove your point· To prove her point, Dr Hurdal showed her audience a scan of a patient’s brain.phrasesprove somebody wrong/right· See if you can prove me wrong.prove somebody guilty/innocent· The law states that you are innocent until proved guilty.
WORD ORIGINprove
Origin:
1100-1200 Old French prover, from Latin probare; ➔ PROBE2VERB TABLE
prove
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | prove |
| he, she, it | proves | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | proved |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have proved (BrE), proved (AmE), proven (AmE) |
| he, she, it | has proved (BrE), proved (AmE), proven (AmE) | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had proved (BrE), proved (AmE), proven (AmE) |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will prove |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have proved (BrE), proved (AmE), proven (AmE) |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am proving |
| he, she, it | is proving | |
| you, we, they | are proving | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was proving |
| you, we, they | were proving | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been proving |
| he, she, it | has been proving | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been proving |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be proving |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been proving |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Can you prove that you were at home at the time of the attack?
- Don't trust anyone who turns up at your door, unless they can prove who they are.
- He claims the police destroyed records that could prove the officer's guilt.
- He wanted to prove that he was just as clever as his sister.
- His guilt has never been conclusively proven.
- I'm telling the truth, and I can prove it to you.
- I would love to prove him wrong.
- To prove her point, Garth cites a book by John Quincy Adams.
- Until there is evidence to prove any of these claims, we cannot pass judgement.
- We're sure Jason took the money, but we can't prove it.
- And that may in the end prove inadequate for any unforeseeable expenses.
- Employees must forge their own career paths, seek out promotions and prove their worth every single day.
- I can only hope I am proved wrong: things have gone too far to turn back the tide.
- Meadows' career in acting would prove relatively short, however.
- The managers soon recognized they had to prove that they deserved their subordinates' respect and trust.
- They both felt that all the preparation had proved worthwhile.
THESAURUS
if a piece of new information confirms an idea or belief that people already have, it shows that it is definitely true: · Police have found new evidence that confirms his story.· The discovery seems to confirm that people lived here over 10,000 years ago.
to show that something is definitely true by providing facts: · DNA tests proved that he was the father of the child.· I think we’ve proved that we are a good team.
to provide additional information to help prove that a statement, belief, or explanation is correct: · When you write a history essay, you should back up all your points with facts.· Wright was accused of pretending to be injured, and this was backed up by video evidence.
to help to prove that a belief, idea etc is probably true: · Do you have any evidence to support these claims?· The notion that women are worse drivers than men is simply not supported by the facts.
if facts or information bear out a claim or opinion, they suggest that something is likely to be true: · Most of the available evidence bears out the view that students learn better in small classes.· Marriage is not always easy; a fact that is clearly borne out in divorce statistics.
formal to provide additional information which supports or agrees with something – used in scientific and legal contexts: · Levine claims that a third car was involved in the accident and witnesses have corroborated this.· Professor Carling’s findings have been corroborated by more recent research.
formal to provide additional information that helps to prove that a statement is correct, especially if the statement is difficult to believe: · A police investigation failed to substantiate the claim that he had been sexually abused.
formal to prove that information or results are correct by using scientific tests or very careful checking – used in scientific or technical contexts: · All the information used in this report has been validated by an independent panel of experts.
Longman Language Activatorto show that something is correct or true to show that something is definitely true, by providing facts or information: · We're sure Jason took the money, but we can't prove it.· Until there is evidence to prove any of these claims, we cannot pass judgement.prove that: · Can you prove that you were at home at the time of the attack? · He wanted to prove that he was just as clever as his sister.prove somebody wrong/innocent/guilty: · I would love to prove him wrong.prove something to somebody: · I'm telling the truth, and I can prove it to you.prove where/how etc: · Don't trust anyone who turns up at your door, unless they can prove who they are.prove something conclusively/beyond doubt: · His guilt has never been conclusively proven.
if facts or actions show that something is true, they prove that it is true: · The Prime Minister's comments show his ignorance of people's feelings.show (that): · Research shows that smiling increases the levels of hormones that promote good health.show where/how etc: · These figures show how serious the company's problems are.show something/somebody to be something: · A scientific theory is only 'true' until someone shows it to be false or inaccurate.
to do something or provide information which makes it very clear to people that something is true: · The studies demonstrate a clear link between smoking and heart disease.demonstrate (that): · The President is anxious to demonstrate that he has a strong foreign policy.demonstrate where/how etc: · Try to round off your answer by demonstrating how your old job has prepared you to do the job you are applying for.
if a piece of new information confirms an idea or belief that people already have, it shows that it is definitely true: · Police have found new evidence that confirms his story.confirm that: · The discovery seems to confirm that people lived here over 10,000 years ago.confirm somebody's worst fears (=prove that something is as bad as someone thought it was): · In July his worst fears were confirmed: he had cancer.
: support a theory/claim/notion/ view etc to help to prove that a belief, idea etc is probably true: · Do you have any evidence to support these claims?· The notion that women are worse drivers than men is simply not supported by the facts.· For twenty-five years he painstakingly amassed evidence to support his hypothesis.
to provide additional information to help prove that a statement, belief, or explanation is correct: back up something: · When you write a history essay, you should back up all your points with facts.back something/it/them up: · They claim they can give us the best deal, but can they back this up with guarantees?· Wright was accused of pretending to be injured, and this was backed up by video evidence.
if facts or information bear out a claim or opinion, they support it and help to prove that it is probably true: bear out something: · Most of the available evidence bears out the view that students learn better in small classes than in large classes.· My warnings about Jean-Paul were later borne out by his dishonesty.bear somebody out (=prove what someone has said is true): · Last summer I predicted an increase in terrorist violence, and recent events have borne me out.
formal to provide additional information that helps to prove that a statement is correct, especially if the statement is difficult to believe: substantiate a claim/an allegation: · The authorities claimed they were conspiring to overthrow the government, but offered no evidence to substantiate these claims.· Allegations made by prisoners are usually only considered when substantiated by the evidence of a prison officer.
formal to prove that information or results are correct by using scientific tests or very careful checking - used in scientific or technical contexts: · All the information used in this report has been validated by an independent panel of experts.· This is an interesting hypothesis, but all attempts to validate it have so far failed.
formal to provide additional information which supports or agrees with something that most people already accept as true - used in scientific and legal contexts: · Levine claims that a third car was involved in the accident and witnesses have corroborated this.· Professor Carling's findings have been corroborated by more recent research.corroborate a story: · There was no one to corroborate her story about the disturbance in the lounge.corroborating evidence: · No doctor would order surgery on the basis of a single test result, without corroborating clinical evidence.
to prove that something is wrong, untrue, or does not exist to prove that something is wrong or not true: · She was able to produce figures that disproved Smith's argument.· The existence of God is a question of faith, and therefore impossible to prove or disprove.
formal to prove that what someone has said is not true: · I knew that he was lying but I had no evidence with which to refute his story.· The accusation has been wholly refuted by an in-depth analysis of the evidence.
to prove that something is not true, especially something that people have believed for a long time, and make it seem silly or unimportant: · In her book she debunks a lot of the claims made by astrologers.· Payton wants to debunk the myth that economics is a science.
formal if a fact or piece of information invalidates an explanation or idea, it proves that it contains mistakes which make it unlikely to be true - used in scientific contexts: · None of the more recent views invalidates Hahnemann's original discoveries or teachings.· If we look closely at Professor Thomson's argument, we see that his conclusion is invalidated by a number of factual errors.
to prove that an argument or idea is completely wrong: · It would not be difficult to demolish a theory that was so obviously a load of rubbish.· There was a time when the response "that's a value judgement" would have demolished any argument in the educational field.
: explode a myth/rumour to prove that something that many people think or believe is wrong or not true: · The report explodes the myth that men are bed-hopping rogues.
a negative result of a medical or chemical test does not show any sign of the condition you are testing for and therefore proves it does not exist in this person or situation: · All the athletes' drugs tests were negative.· a negative pregnancy test· The first brain scan proved negative.
something that proves something is true information or facts that prove that something is true: · He was the only person in the room when the money disappeared - what more proof do you want?· The police knew she was guilty, but they had no proof.proof of: · You can't drink in bars without some proof of your age.proof (that): · There is no proof that he did it.conclusive proof (=something that definitely proves something is true): · It was alleged that he was stealing money from the till, but we never had any conclusive proof.
information that helps to prove whether something is true or not: · The police did not have enough evidence to charge anybody with the murder.evidence that: · There is some evidence that a small amount of alcohol is good for you.evidence of/for: · evidence of life on other planetsmedical/scientific/forensic etc evidence: · There is no scientific evidence to support this theory.evidence to suggest/indicate/show etc something: · There is strong evidence to suggest that the Great Barrier Reef will have disappeared in 20 years time.not a shred of evidence (=no evidence at all): · There is not a shred of evidence to support such a theory.
official documents that are used to prove that a claim or statement is true or correct: · Can you produce documentation to support your claim?· As there is no formal documentation of your business partnership, it has no legal status.
a person, group, or place that proves that something is true or possible: living proof of: · The team is living proof of the old saying that it's not whom you play that counts, but when you play them.· We know that English and French speakers can live together in Canada - Montreal is living proof of that.living proof that: · Jordan is living proof that you don't have to conform to the music industry's standards in order to be accepted.
a way of finding out whether something is as good as people say it is, whether it works, or when it is true: · The acid test of a good leader is the extent to which they select a style to suit the circumstances.
to officially prove that someone is guilty to prove that someone is guilty of a crime: · Think of all the time they've wasted trying to prove me guilty, while the real killer goes free.innocent until proven guilty (=someone cannot be considered guilty until it is officially proved that they are guilty ): · It is a basic principle of US law, that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
if a court of law finds someone guilty or convicts them, they decide that that person is guilty of a crime: · If the jury finds him guilty he will face a maximum sentence of seven years.· No one has yet been convicted of any of the terrorist attacks.find somebody guilty of something: · The two men were found guilty of the murder and jailed for life.find somebody guilty of doing something: · He was found guilty of supplying drugs.convict somebody of something: · Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence?convict somebody of doing something: · All four men were convicted of illegally bringing drugs into the country.
WORD SETSallspice, nounbake, verbbarbecue, verbbaste, verbblanch, verbboil, verbbottle, verbbouillon cube, nounbraise, verbbreadcrumbs, nounbreaded, adjectivebrine, nounbroil, verbbrown, verbbutter, verbcandied, adjectivecaper, nouncaramel, nouncardamom, nouncarve, verbcasserole, nouncasserole, verbcaster sugar, nouncharbroil, verbchervil, nounchestnut, nounchicory, nounchill, verbchilli powder, nounchip, verbcilantro, nouncinnamon, nounclean, verbclove, nouncochineal, nouncoconut, nouncook, verbcook, nouncookbook, nouncookery, nouncookery book, nouncordon bleu, adjectivecore, verbcoriander, nouncream, verbcrisp, verbcube, verbculinary, adjectivecumin, nouncurry powder, noundeep fry, verbdessertspoon, noundevilled, adjectivedice, verbdone, adjectivedress, verbessence, nounfat, nounflambé, adjectiveflan, nounflavouring, nounflour, nounflour, verbfrost, verbfrosting, nounfry, verbglaze, verbglaze, noungourmet, adjectivegourmet, noungrate, verbgrease, noungrease, verbgreaseproof paper, noungrill, verbgrill, noungrind, verbgut, verbhard-boiled, adjectivehaute cuisine, nounhob, nounhull, verbhusk, verbice, verbicebox, nounicing, nounicing sugar, nouningredient, nounjoint, verbknead, verblard, nounlard, verbleaven, nounliquidize, verbmarinade, nounmarinate, verbmarjoram, nounmicrowave, verbmince, verbmincer, nounmint, nounmix, verbmix, nounnouvelle cuisine, nounnutmeg, nounoil, nounolive oil, nounoverdone, adjectiveparboil, verbpare, verbpickle, verbpipe, verbpit, verbpitted, adjectivepkt, pluck, verbplum tomato, nounpoach, verbprecooked, adjectivepreheat, verbprep, verbprove, verbrecipe, nounreduce, verbrice paper, nounrind, nounrise, verbroast, verbroast, nounroast, adjectiverosemary, nounroux, nounsaffron, nounsage, nounsalt, nounsalt, verbsauce, nounsausage meat, nounsauté, verbsavory, nounscalloped, adjectivesear, verbseason, verbseasoning, nounself-raising flour, nounself-rising flour, nounsesame, nounshell, verbshortening, nounshort-order cook, nounshuck, verbsieve, verbsift, verbsifter, nounsimmer, verbsimmer, nounskewer, verbsmoke, verbsoak, verbsoda, nounsodium bicarbonate, nounspice, nounspice, verbspicy, adjectivestarch, nounsteam, verbsteep, verbstew, verbstock, nounstone, verbstrain, verbstuff, verbstuffing, nounsunny-side up, adjectivesweat, verbsweet-and-sour, adjectiveTabasco, nountandoori, adjectivetarragon, nountbsp, teaspoon, nountenderize, verbtenderloin, nountextured vegetable protein, nounthaw, verbthyme, nountimer, nountoast, nountoast, verbtoss, verbtruss, verbtsp, turmeric, noununderdone, adjectivevinaigrette, nounvinegar, nounwhip, verbwhisk, verbyeast, nounzap, verbzest, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYnouns His delay in making a decision could prove costly in the long run. The move proved disastrous (=was disastrous) for the company. Disunity finally proved fatal to the rebels’ cause. Fortunately my suspicions proved groundless. We hope that further research will confirm our hypothesis. The new air conditioning system proved inadequate. Can you prove your innocence? Tax-cutting proposals could prove irresistible to lawmakers. Why did he feel he had to prove his manhood in the company of women? boys trying to prove their masculinity a crisis which will test the minister’s mettle Lundgren’s warnings proved prophetic. We’re looking for someone with a proven track record in selling advertising. Sadly, my optimism proved unfounded.
· There was no way she could prove her innocence.
· These pictures do not prove the existence of water on Mars.
· No evidence emerged to prove either theory.
· The state had failed to prove its case.
· To prove her point, Dr Hurdal showed her audience a scan of a patient’s brain.
phrases· See if you can prove me wrong.
· The law states that you are innocent until proved guilty.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=that you have proved through your achievements)· Companies often value the proven ability and reliability of older employees.
· There were very few facts to support the accusation against him.
· The organisers hope the event will become an annual attraction.
(=be shown to be true)· Fortunately, my memory proved correct.
His delay in making a decision could prove costly in the long run. (=be crucial)· His appointment was to prove crucial to the organization’s success.
The move proved disastrous (=was disastrous) for the company. (=be an embarrassment)· The publication of the documents proved a severe embarrassment to the company.
(=prove that something exists)· The images confirm the existence of water on the planet's surface.
· Their decision could prove expensive.
· His experiment showed that lightning was a kind of electricity.· The experiment proved that fabrics treated with the chemical are much less likely to catch fire.
Disunity finally proved fatal to the rebels’ cause. Fortunately my suspicions proved groundless. We hope that further research will confirm our hypothesis. (=be impossible because you have tried but not succeeded)· It proved impossible for the two sides to reach an agreement.
The new air conditioning system proved inadequate. Can you prove your innocence? Tax-cutting proposals could prove irresistible to lawmakers. (=do something that shows you are loyal to someone)· He showed great loyalty to his wife during her long illness.
Why did he feel he had to prove his manhood in the company of women? boys trying to prove their masculinity a crisis which will test the minister’s mettle (=be an obstacle)· The weather proved an obstacle, with nonstop rains flooding the field.
(=prove that what you say is right)· He was determined to prove his point.
Lundgren’s warnings proved prophetic.· We warned that it would not work, and we have been proved right.
· No evidence emerged to prove either theory.
We’re looking for someone with a proven track record in selling advertising. Sadly, my optimism proved unfounded.· The search for a planet like the Earth has so far proved unsuccessful.
formal (=be useful)· This equipment could prove useful in testing babies’ hearing.
· Police checkpoints proved useless at stopping the suicide bombers.
(=be valuable for someone)· This advice was to prove valuable.
law (=to show that a will has been made in the correct way)· If the estate is small, you may not need to prove the will.
(=be shown to be wrong)· People do not like to be proved wrong.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· While only recently introduced, the service is already proving very successful.· Townsend boys got into City almost automatically; they had already proved their mettle.· Conclusion Mrs Thatcher has already proved herself a remarkable figure.· But the first visit has already proved helpful.· He flights the ball well and is already proving to be a master in disguising the googly.· Malarone has already proved highly effective in other trials.· What follows is offered as a tentative approach, but one that has already proved useful to teachers. 1 Fictional narrative.· George Cunningham, who have already proved themselves totally incapable of any future viability by already losing by an embarrassing margin.
· At his trial Jaggers was proved right.· Unfortunately, as time passes she has been proved right.· In 1996 they will be proved right.· Ironically, the observations of Captain FitzRoy, the orthodox Creationist, had been proved right.· Just because her astrological theories were being proved right.· One day, if only by the laws of probability, the rumours will be proved right.· When Delia Sutherland did at last ring it was three weeks after their meeting and he was proved right.
· However, a bus service offers an alternative if the going proves too taxing.· His briefcase proved too small to hold all the notes.· But the weighty haul may have proved too much for the raiders.· Within a year or two, the persona of the disaffected hipster would prove too cynical, too alienated to last.· Getting rid of me had proved too much for him and he was now trying to force through a muddled compromise.· The price of making the marriage work proved too high for me.· Perhaps those problems will ultimately prove too great.· But managing franchisers proved too onerous for the founders, so they began looking for a buyer.
· Relocating an employee can prove very costly.· Finding the skilled opponents, however, proved very difficult.· While only recently introduced, the service is already proving very successful.· Some materials that have proved very difficult to crystallize on Earth can be coaxed to do so in space.· The method has nevertheless proved very useful.· This would soon prove very valuable.· Although the infection cleared up, he was left with a mild diarrhoea that proved very persistent.· Open access with a larger number of smaller commercial companies would prove very beneficial to customers in ways not possible today.
NOUN· However, this has not necessarily proved to be the case when the time has come to commit the words to celluloid.· That did not prove to be the case.· It is easier to prove your case when you have prepared it along the way.· The prosecution can not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt against either one of them.· Still, he posed several questions that he said proved the plaintiffs' case was utter nonsense.· Make the government prove its case against him if it can.
· Alfonso Portillo, who was elected by the people, has to be given a chance to prove himself.· He deserves a chance to prove that he is ready to win on the major-league level.· They hope he gets the chance to prove on Saturday, that he's value for money.· And now, healthier than he has been in nearly three years, he wants a chance to prove it.· Men like you never give women like me a chance to prove we're real, she thought.
· Unfortunately, molecular evidence, which has proved itself useful in other areas of disagreement, has yet to prove itself here.· Geological evidence proves beyond doubt that it is three million years old.· But it need not be that way and there is evidence to prove it.· More geological evidence found later proved the theory correct.· Love is the evidence you need which proves the benign nature of the universe.· No evidence emerged to prove either theory.· Would Stan Gooch please produce some evidence to prove his figures?· I have no evidence to prove who was in the office.
· But he was the exception that proved the rule.· The two exceptions prove the rule.· This is the exception to prove the rule.· But such successes were rare: they are the exceptions that prove the rule.· But, this exception proving the rule, notice that the diamond in question was an enormously valuable unique jewel.· That way they could be exceptions that prove the rule rather than embarrass it.
· You have proved your innocence, and you are not on trial to prove that again.· Suspected of murdering his wife, Krane got off on a technicality and is now obsessed with proving his innocence.· Billy the Badger had much more difficulty in proving his innocence, although he admitted to stealing chickens.· He even performed a miracle to prove his innocence.· Nothing she had said or done had altered his rigid beliefs, and she couldn't prove her innocence without betraying Lori.· Kelly proved his innocence by showing police that his fingerprints do not match those of the shoplifter.· Would the contents of the faded envelope finally prove his father's innocence?· This only adds to the dynamism between them as he tries to prove Von Bulow's innocence.
· It proved a turning point in the war leading to Lincoln emancipation proclamation liberating the slaves.· If this is the case, you should be prepared to prove your point and present a cost-effective alternative.· He does not try to prove points one way or the other, but he does ask meaningful and relevant questions.· The many examples of that provided in these pages help to prove the point.· He needed some nice girl of Anthony's age to prove his point.· The port is conducting studies in hopes of proving the point.· This will prove an important point to bear in mind in the discussions of Chapter 6.
· But he was the exception that proved the rule.· The two exceptions prove the rule.· Or could you prove the rules of logic without using the rules to do so?· But such successes were rare: they are the exceptions that prove the rule.· This is the exception to prove the rule.· So much for the exceptions; now to prove the rule.· Mikhail Gorbachev's Soviet Union had once seemed the enlightened exception, but now only proves the bloody rule.· That way they could be exceptions that prove the rule rather than embarrass it.
· The scheme, which also includes £60 per goal, was only introduced this season and it certainly has proved a success.· At $ 3. 99, a weekday all-you-can-eat lunch buffet proved a resounding success.· In the course of a long lifetime, his bold concept was proved an amazing success.· Their experimental ironclad had proved a great success.· It is proving an amazing success.· There was no doubt that Harry's twenty-first celebration was proving a phenomenal success.· By 1880 there were about a thousand hotels in the scheme which proved a resounding success.· All of which explains why the Domaine has proved such a success.
· Employees must forge their own career paths, seek out promotions and prove their worth every single day.· The onus is now on Untaet and the World Bank to prove their worth.· Surface only scratched and the guide has proved its worth already.· Members of the Diet prove their worth by attending constituents' weddings and sitting through endless meetings with colleagues.· But already it's proved its worth.· There would be other gardens, other chances to prove her worth.
VERB· I feel it and I've tried to prove it.· They used the devices of anthropology, sociology, history, and biology trying to prove that Negroes were inferior.· What was he trying to prove, she asked acidly, his ability to survive?· Every self is an argument trying to prove its identity.· He always tried to prove that there was no computer challenge that he could not resolve.· We were all playing roles in a comedy. l tried to prove to Sonya that withholding herself from me was hypocritical.· The scientist should try to prove the hypothesis wrong.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► prove yourself/prove something (to somebody)► what is somebody trying to prove?PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- I'm not going to run the marathon just to prove a point. I know I could do it if I wanted to.
- As others may have different theories a genuine desire to prove a point of view leads to some lively debate.
- But the Razor wanted to prove a point and demanded a return.
- He does not try to prove points one way or the other, but he does ask meaningful and relevant questions.
- Is Wilko trying to prove a point or does he just want rid of Rocky???
- That proves a point, doesn't it?
- That he didn't seemed to prove a point.
- They rose to the bait and decided they needed to prove a point, putting together their nine-piece Bootsy Collins-featuring live band.
- To prove a point I smashed a piece open and applied the magnets.
- Despite this, I felt it would be better to prove myself in basic training before allowing my real personality to resurface.
- Entrepreneur Larry Wilson defined the difference between desire and drive as the difference between expressing yourself and proving yourself.
- For them an elite must prove itself in this ability to murder.
- He was posted first to Reading, and was soon proving himself a soldier and horseman of rare incompetence.
- In the meantime you have to prove yourself by being extra good, and doing helpful things around the house.
- Outstanding Spartak have proved themselves the masters of away goals and just one tonight will seriously jeopardise Liverpool's hopes.
- The fourteen-year-old Gertrude was appointed as the abbess and proved herself deserving of the title.
- Unfortunately, molecular evidence, which has proved itself useful in other areas of disagreement, has yet to prove itself here.
- Most people our age have finished school, and Mike is the exception that proves the rule.
- But Rat, I am going to show you the World.
- It goes to show you the gap between reality and virtual reality in military thinking.
- It just goes to show you.
- James Prior said unemployment levels were intolerable and Norman Tebbit said that he was going to prove that the problem was soluble.
- Leese was going to show me another trick.
- Which goes to show that the smart guys were right about something.
- Which all goes to show what can actually be achieved when an analogue master tape is lovingly transferred to compact disc.
- Which just goes to prove, you do have to be a somebody to get ahead in this town!
- His inspiration fell on fertile ground, prepared by endless repetition.
- On their arrival at the breeding grounds, male pied flycatchers find a suitable nesting site.
- The position required no athletic ability, but traditionally has served as a proving ground for Mississippi politicians.
- The race, the breeding ground, might be missed, both in sporting and traditional terms, should it cease.
- The unhygienic conditions of a stable were a breeding ground for all manner of disease and bacteria hazardous to a newborn.
- There are 22 events per year, and tracks range from Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground tote Mans.
- Where scum settles on wetted surfaces in kitchens, it creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
WORD FAMILYnounproofadjectiveproven ≠ unprovenverbprove ≠ disprove
1show something is true [transitive] to show that something is true by providing facts, information etc: You’re wrong, and I can prove it.prove (that) Tests have proved that the system works.prove something to somebody I knew he had done it, but there was no way I could prove it to Eddie.prove somebody’s guilt/innocence He claims the police destroyed records that could prove the officer’s guilt.prove somebody wrong/innocent etc They say I’m too old, but I’m going to prove them all wrong. To prove his point (=show that he was right), he mentioned several other experiments which had produced similar results.GRAMMARYou prove something to someone: · I will prove to you that I’m right. ✗Don’t say: I will prove you that I’m right.2be [linking verb] if someone or something proves difficult, helpful, a problem etc, they are difficult, helpful, a problem etc: The recent revelations may prove embarrassing to the president.prove to be something The design proved to be a success.GRAMMAR: Linking verbsProve is a linking verb in this meaning. This type of verb links the subject of the sentence with an adjective or noun: · The task proved difficult.· He has proved a loyal friend. You can also say: · The task proved to be difficult.· He has proved to be a loyal friend.3prove yourself/prove something (to somebody) to show how good you are at doing something: When I first started this job, I felt I had to prove myself.4prove yourself (to be) something to show other people that you are a particular type of person: She’s proved herself to be a very reliable worker.5what is somebody trying to prove? spoken said when you are annoyed by someone’s actions and do not understand them6prove a point if someone does something to prove a point, they do it to show that they are right or that they can do something: I’m not going to run the marathon just to prove a point.7bread [intransitive] if dough (=unbaked bread mixture) proves, it rises and becomes light because of the yeast in it8law [transitive] law to show that a will has been made in the correct way—provable adjectiveCOLLOCATIONSnounsprove somebody’s guilt/innocence· There was no way she could prove her innocence.prove the existence of something· These pictures do not prove the existence of water on Mars.prove a theory· No evidence emerged to prove either theory.prove your case· The state had failed to prove its case.prove your point· To prove her point, Dr Hurdal showed her audience a scan of a patient’s brain.phrasesprove somebody wrong/right· See if you can prove me wrong.prove somebody guilty/innocent· The law states that you are innocent until proved guilty.