1Establish the truth or correctness of (something previously believed, suspected, or feared to be the case)

1. 1.1 State with assurance that a report or fact is true.
   he confirmed that the general was in the hands of the rebels

   “It is indeed real coffee,” I confirmed

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I can in fact confirm that New Zealand First voted against the bill.
   • He went into the witness box and confirmed that the facts he had given to the court were true, but he was not cross-examined.
   • It's true that nobody has confirmed, on the record, that the proposal is even under discussion.
   • In fact, she confirmed that she has raised the issue about her back problems with her current doctor.
   • Reporters covering the story were quick to confirm that her performance would include bikinis, but no actually topless scenes.
   • I confirmed that both were true, and asked if his mother told him.
   • The man, in fact, confirmed in his testimony that it was he who always made the decisions during the marriage.
   • In fact, the Minister confirmed that in the House this afternoon.
   • So, as John suggests, why won't they simply put the matter to rest by confirming or denying the facts as set out in the memos?
   • As for the manipulation of final salary pension, I can confirm that is true.
   • I invite the Minister to take a call to confirm whether it is true that the requirement for consultation under this amendment bill will be long and arduous.
   • Another soldier confirmed the general's story, adding that he would be prepared to identify American soldiers if given the chance.
   • Can someone out there confirm that this is true?
   • Scientists can't confirm that for a fact, but the belief that certain ones stir the libido may be all the convincing that's needed.
   • My colleague has been in contact with the industry throughout the evening listening to its concerns, and he confirms that, in fact, there is a loophole.
   • You focus on the fact that he neither confirms nor denies an imminent threat.
   • In today's Press Briefing, though, he would neither confirm nor deny this report.
   • ‘This is speculation and we cannot confirm that it is true,’ said a spokeswoman.
   • In fact, as my colleagues will confirm, whatever I do, I tend to do it obsessively.
   • Larry, defense officials in fact, are now confirming that they do have what they call a high level of interest in two individuals.

   Synonyms

   affirm, reaffirm, assert, reassert, give an assurance, assure someone, repeat, say again, state again, pledge, promise, guarantee
2. 1.2confirm someone in Reinforce someone in (an opinion, belief, or feeling)
   two recent experiences have confirmed me in this view

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The longer we stay, the more they are confirmed in that view.
   • In the time since, I have done further research in this area, which has confirmed me in my conclusions.
   • These objects confirmed us in a traditional humanist understanding of the world beyond our own.
   • Viewing the radiographic evidence confirmed him in the idea that he had arrived at.
   • This one sentence, carefully read would have answered your first question and confirmed you in your concerns.
   • It hardens our racial categories and confirms us in our bad habit of treating race like it's real.
   • The phenomenal response to it from all over the country confirmed him in his idea of producing a CD with us, a project which we owe entirely to him.
   • If anything, it confirmed them in their resolve to do the right thing as they saw it and not give in to the pressures of one side or the other on this issue.
   • What has confirmed me in this suspicion is the news that the model railway manufacturer has just had its most successful Christmas since the Seventies, largely due to the patronage of older people.
   • Regardless, its relative failure probably confirmed him in his preference for lighter subjects.
   • No doubt the debacle will confirm them in their scepticism.
   • This of course confirmed her in her opinion, for Grandpa's pride in his own awfulness was his distinguishing trait.
   • Two items in the press confirm me in that diagnosis.
   • It has only confirmed me in my belief that those who call sports talkback shows to complain about the performance of elite sportspeople have usually never played elite sport themselves!
   • And this confirmed me in my conviction that the surest way to steal the meaning, and therefore the power, from religion is to deliver it to politics, to enslave it to public life.
   • I believed that when I wrote it, and a long lifetime rich in varied experience of the world, in study and in reflection confirms me in it.
   • When will the Magisterium learn that it is there to confirm us in our prejudices and a priori assumptions, not to make us think?
   • We think the risk is that it will confirm him in his view that there is no problem and he can continue with policies that are damaging the country.
   • I think it likely that this further information confirmed him in his view that he must have it.
   • He had resigned that summer, and when the news reached Dutch Harbor it only confirmed me in my cynicism.

   Synonyms

   corroborate, bear out, verify, show the truth of, prove, validate, authenticate, substantiate, give substance to, justify, vouch for, vindicate, give credence to, support, uphold, back up
3. 1.3 Make (a provisional arrangement or appointment) definite.
   Mr. Baker's assistant telephoned to confirm his appointment with the chairman

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The Professor called her to confirm the appointment and asked about the purpose of the meeting.
   • On arrival at the surgery, a receptionist confirmed her appointment and pointed to the adjacent waiting room.
   • I received a phone call confirming my appointment for tomorrow, just after lunch.
   • Yesterday I rang her to confirm the final arrangements for meeting up at the beginning of next week.
   • Well did you bother checking with her agency to confirm her arrangements in this country?
   • Passengers who have already made bookings have now been told to confirm their arrangements - or risk losing them.
   • I rudely hang up on a nice lady from a PR company who was very kindly taking the time out of her hectic schedule to ring and confirm some travel arrangements for me.
   • We were told that the mortgage would be paid off within 10 years with a surplus bonus at current interest rates and received a letter confirming this arrangement.
   • I enter the surgery, confirm my appointment at the desk, and take a seat.
   • Call your stylist and confirm your appointment on Prom day.
   • Once the appointment is confirmed the salesperson can then plan their sales presentation.
   • They will normally send a letter confirming the appointment, the location, and the examination's scope.
   • It is a good idea to check this with the receptionist when you confirm your appointment.
   • If they are prepared to wait a few days, we can send a letter confirming the appointment and which carpenter it is with.
4. 1.4 Make (something, especially a person's appointment to a position or an agreement) formally valid; ratify.
   the organization has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Collins as managing director

   Example sentencesExamples

   • His appointment was confirmed by the club management at a recent meeting.
   • The Council confirmed the appointment of a new manager at a meeting of the authority's safer communities committee this week.
   • The two were dismissed, and this decision was confirmed by a director.
   • The Cabinet's decision was confirmed at its meeting last Tuesday.
   • But I can tell fans of the Lions that some thoroughly good appointments were confirmed last week.
   • This decision was confirmed by the English Court of Appeal.
   • Five days after the appointment of the Administrator by the Board, a meeting of all the creditors, including the workers, is held to confirm that appointment.
   • Two of the six had already found other jobs due to the long wait to confirm their appointments.
   • The sacrament of marriage is in this context at best a matter of romantic deference to tradition, confirming a decision already taken to ‘live together’.
   • The head teacher expelled them in June and the school's governors confirmed the decision.
   • The deal to confirm his appointment was rubber-stamped after he attended Saturday's 3-0 victory at Watford.
   • And in 1598 the Privy Council confirmed this arrangement by granting them a joint monopoly.
   • The Anglican Church in America has voted to confirm the appointment of an openly gay bishop.
   • Secondly, there was no evidence called to indicate that the Board of Directors ever approved, ratified or confirmed any agreement.
   • I thank her for confirming my decision and dismiss the matter from my mind.
   • Two weeks ago his appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
   • A special meeting of the full council scheduled for Monday to confirm the new appointment has subsequently been cancelled.
   • He said he'd been sent to Australia by the leaders in Malaysia and that they had later come to Sydney to confirm his appointment as a leader of the local group.
   • A body as unrepresentative as the United States Senate should not be confirming lifetime appointments, especially by simple majority vote.
   • All that clause states is that the High Court confirms appointments.

   Synonyms

   ratify, validate, sanction, endorse, formalize, certify, underwrite, authorize, warrant, accredit, approve, recognize, agree to, consent to, accept
5. 1.5 Formally declare (someone) to be appointed to a particular position.
   he was confirmed as the new peace envoy

   Example sentencesExamples

   • If, as we forecast on page one, he is confirmed as unpaid chairman, then the company's boss will at least bring some heavyweight experience to the group.
   • When he was confirmed as Commissioner, he had told the media he couldn't say who would be appointed Deputy Commissioner.
   • He signalled that tax cuts will have to come second to public service reform after he was finally confirmed as Tory leader yesterday.
   • The six-footer was having his first press conference since he was confirmed as the company president on August 7.
   • But then afterward, someone has to tell him that she was confirmed to the post last June.
   • He's aged just eight, is owned by a charming Brummie and stabled with two eccentrics, and in 2003, he was confirmed as racing's new superstar.
   • My guess is that he expected to be cleared and didn't want to say anything until after he was confirmed as Secretary of State or Defense.
   • Having thus made his public confession, he was confirmed as Labour's only candidate, and now seems set to be installed as first minister next week.
   • His participation crowned what was a wonderful week for the Sligo lad as he was also confirmed as a member of our cycling team for the Athens Olympics.
   • He is confirmed as his replacement in Blighty.
   • This issue was examined before he was confirmed as secretary of defense in 1989.
   • From his appointment as CEO of the company in March of this year, last week he was confirmed as the firm's new chairman too.
   • I am now confirmed in post, and we are awaiting the results of the national executive elections.
   • He was confirmed as president in 1992 and 1997 elections that were widely viewed as flawed.
   • He said that if he is confirmed as prime minister, he would first try to stymie the violence that has crippled the country's recovery.
   • It will also confirm her as the person who cheerfully keeps the group on an even keel, more comfortable than otherwise might be the case with a level of emotional solidarity.
   • He was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice in 1971.

2Administer the religious rite of confirmation to.