Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense confirms, present participle confirming, past tense, past participle confirmed
1. verb [no cont]
If something confirms what you believe, suspect, or fear, it shows that it is definitely true.
X-rays have confirmed that he has not broken any bones. [VERB that]
These new statistics confirm our worst fears about the depth of the recession. [VERB noun]
This confirms what I suspected all along. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: prove, support, establish, back up More Synonyms of confirm
confirmation (kɒnfəʳmeɪʃən)uncountable noun
They took her resignation from Bendix as confirmation of their suspicions. [+ of]
Synonyms: proof, evidence, testimony, verification More Synonyms of confirm
2. verb
If you confirm something that has been stated or suggested, you say that it is true because you know about it.
The spokesman confirmed that the area was now in rebel hands. [VERB that]
He confirmed what had long been feared. [VERB noun]
Can you confirm this? [VERB noun]
Synonyms: affirm, state, declare, assert More Synonyms of confirm
confirmationuncountable noun
She glanced over at James for confirmation.
Synonyms: affirmation, approval, acceptance, endorsement More Synonyms of confirm
3. verb
If you confirm an arrangement or appointment, you say that it is definite, usually in a letter or on the telephone.
You make the reservation, and I'll confirm it in writing. [VERB noun]
confirmationuncountable noun
Travel arrangements are subject to confirmation by State Tourist Organisations. [+ by]
4. verb [usually passive]
If someone is confirmed, they are formally accepted as a member of a Christian church during a ceremony in which they say they believe what the church teaches.
He was confirmed as a member of the Church of England. [beVERB-ed]
Flu prevented her from attending her daughter's confirmation.
5. verb [no cont]
If something confirms you in your decision, belief, or opinion, it makes you think that you are definitely right.
It has confirmed me in my decision not to become a nurse. [VERB noun + in]
6. verb
If someone confirms their position, role, or power, they do something to make their power, position, or role stronger or more definite.
Williams has confirmed his position as the world's number one snooker player. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: strengthen, establish, settle, fix More Synonyms of confirm
7. verb
If something confirms you as something, it shows that you definitely deserve a name, role, or position.
His new role could confirm him as one of our leading actors. [VERB noun + as]
More Synonyms of confirm
confirm in British English
(kənˈfɜːm)
verb(transitive)
1. (may take a clause as object)
to prove to be true or valid; corroborate; verify
2. (may take a clause as object)
to assert for a second or further time, so as to make more definite
he confirmed that he would appear in court
3.
to strengthen or make more firm
his story confirmed my doubts
4.
to make valid by a formal act or agreement; ratify
5.
to administer the rite of confirmation to
Derived forms
confirmable (conˈfirmable)
adjective
confirmatory (conˈfirmatory) or confirmative (conˈfirmative)
adjective
confirmer (conˈfirmer)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French confermer, from Latin confirmāre, from firmusfirm1
confirm in American English
(kənˈfɜrm)
verb transitive
1.
to make firm; strengthen; establish; encourage
2.
to make valid by formal approval; ratify
3.
to prove the truth, validity, or authenticity of; verify
4.
to cause to undergo the religious ceremony of confirmation
SYNONYMY NOTE: to confirm is to establish as true that which was doubtful or uncertain [to confirm a rumor]; substantiate suggests the producing of evidence that proves or tends to prove the validity ofa previous assertion or claim [the census figures substantiate his charge]; corroborate suggests the strengthening of one statement or testimony by another [the witnesses corroborated her version of the event]; to verify is to prove to be true or correct by investigation, comparison with a standard, orreference to ascertainable facts [to verify an account]; authenticate implies proof of genuineness by an authority or expert [to authenticate a painting]; validate implies official confirmation of the validity of something [to validate a will]
OPPOSITES: contradict, disprove
Derived forms
confirmable (conˈfirmable)
adjective
Word origin
ME confermen < OFr confermer < L confirmare < com-, intens. + firmare, to strengthen < firmus, firm1
Examples of 'confirm' in a sentence
confirm
They confirm other studies about why people resign.
Christianity Today (2000)
More and more research is confirming that giving makes us happy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some remaining board members have confirmed their intention to launch a rescue package.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The two men spoke only to confirm basic details about their identity.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He gave names of former staff members who could confirm that role.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
So much broadcasting is about comforting and confirming.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Friends who know about these things confirmed this.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Family members confirmed that they had heard reports of his death.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Figures confirm complaints about flying cameras being used to peer into windows are rising.
The Sun (2016)
Those confirmed dead include one member of the crew and a high school student who died after being rescued.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Police confirmed that one woman died when she missed the rescue blanket after leaping through the smoke and flames.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That would have been the perfect scenario for when he is confirmed in the role on a permanent basis next week.
The Sun (2014)
Trade unions are also required to hold a ballot to confirm that its members wish to make donations to political parties.
Chambers, Ian Business Studies Basic Facts (1990)
No cast members have been confirmed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Three have been built, one more is confirmed and eight are being drawn up.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And police confirmed that one of those wounded in the shop is the girlfriend of a man already in custody over that incident.
The Sun (2013)
If there should be any difficulty about my being confirmed, of course we will explain it.
Charlotte M. Yonge The Daisy Chain (1837)
Not one has been confirmed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They emerged hours after the PM confirmed his role in keeping the charity afloat.
The Sun (2015)
To confirm this, one only need consider two statistics from recent Italian opinion polls.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Having seen it, I can confirm that it makes bleak viewing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
confirm
British English: confirm /kənˈfɜːm/ VERB
If something confirms what you believe, it shows that it is definitely true.
X-rays have confirmed that he has not broken any bones.
American English: confirm
Arabic: يُؤَكِّدُ عَلَى
Brazilian Portuguese: confirmar
Chinese: 确认
Croatian: potvrditi
Czech: potvrdit
Danish: bekræfte
Dutch: bevestigen
European Spanish: confirmar
Finnish: vahvistaa varmistaa
French: confirmer
German: bestätigen
Greek: επιβεβαιώνω
Italian: confermare
Japanese: 確認する
Korean: 확인하다
Norwegian: bekrefte
Polish: potwierdzić
European Portuguese: confirmar
Romanian: a confirma
Russian: подтверждать
Latin American Spanish: confirmar
Swedish: bekräfta
Thai: ยืนยัน
Turkish: doğrulamak
Ukrainian: підтверджувати
Vietnamese: xác nhận
All related terms of 'confirm'
confirm details
The details of something are its individual features or elements.
confirm suspicions
Suspicion or a suspicion is a belief or feeling that someone has committed a crime or done something wrong .
confirm the death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
confirm a diagnosis
Diagnosis is the discovery and naming of what is wrong with someone who is ill or with something that is not working properly.
confirm an incident
An incident is something that happens , often something that is unpleasant.
confirm a reservation
If you confirm a reservation , you inform someone who has booked a room at a hotel that the reservation is definite .
confirm an appointment
The appointment of a person to a particular job is the choice of that person to do it.
confirm the identity of
Your identity is who you are.
confirmed case
A case is a person or their particular problem that a doctor , social worker, or other professional is dealing with.
Chinese translation of 'confirm'
confirm
(kənˈfəːm)
vt
(= verify)
[statement, report, story etc]肯定 (kěndìng)
[appointment, date]确(確)认(認) (quèrèn)
(= bear out)[suspicion, fear]证(證)实(實) (zhèngshí)
(Rel) 给(給) ... 施坚(堅)信礼(禮) (gěi ... shī jiānxìnlǐ)
to confirm that ... [person, data]证(證)实(實) ... (zhèngshí ... )
1 (verb)
Definition
to prove to be true or valid
This confirms what I suspected all along.
Synonyms
prove
new evidence that could prove their innocence
support
The evidence does not support the argument.
establish
An autopsy was being done to establish the cause of death.
back up
verify
The government has not verified any of these reports.
validate
The evidence has been validated by historians.
bear out
substantiate
There is little scientific evidence to substantiate the claims.
corroborate
I had access to a wide range of documents which corroborated the story.
authenticate
2 (verb)
Definition
to reaffirm (something), so as to make (it) more definite
I can confirm that the area is now in rebel hands.
Synonyms
affirm
`The place is a dump,' she affirmed.
state
Clearly state your address and telephone number.
declare
He declared his intention to become the best golfer in the world.
assert
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.
testify
Several eye witnesses testified that they had seen the fight.
pronounce
A specialist has pronounced him fully fit.
They took time to pronounce their verdict.
certify
They have certified the document as genuine.
attest
Records attest to his long history of violence.
aver
Her friends aver that men find her fascinating.
asseverate (formal)
avouch
3 (verb)
Definition
to formally make valid
Mrs Suarez is due to be confirmed as President on Friday.
Synonyms
ratify
They have yet to ratify the treaty.
establish
approve
MPs approved the bill by a majority of 97.
sanction
endorse
I can endorse this statement wholeheartedly.
authorize
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
certify
validate
Give the retailer your winning ticket to validate.
authenticate
He authenticated the accuracy of various details.
4 (verb)
Definition
to strengthen
He has confirmed his position as the world's number one snooker player.
Synonyms
strengthen
Research would strengthen the case for socialist reform.
establish
He has established himself as a pivotal figure in US politics.
settle
Right, that's settled then.
fix
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
secure
We need to teach people how to secure themselves in these areas.
assure
Last night's victory has assured their promotion.
reinforce
They had to reinforce the walls with exterior beams.
clinch
We are about to clinch a deal with an American manufacturer.
verify
A clerk simply verifies that the payment and invoice amount match.
fortify
The volunteers were fortified by their patriotic belief.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of approve
Definition
to authorize or agree to
MPs approved the bill by a majority of 97.
Synonyms
agree to,
second,
allow,
pass,
accept,
confirm,
recommend,
permit,
sanction,
advocate,
bless,
endorse,
uphold,
mandate,
authorize,
ratify,
go along with,
subscribe to,
consent to,
buy into (informal),
validate,
countenance,
rubber stamp,
accede to,
give the go-ahead to (informal),
give the green light to,
assent to,
concur in,
greenlight,
O.K. or okay (informal)
in the sense of assert
Definition
to state or declare
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.