evidence
noun OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈevɪdəns/
/ˈevɪdəns/
Idioms - [uncountable] the facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true
- evidence (of something) Researchers have found clear scientific evidence of a link between exposure to sun and skin cancer.
- evidence for something There is a growing body of evidence for the existence of black holes that are ten times as massive as the Sun.
- evidence that… There is not a shred of evidence that the meeting actually took place.
- evidence to suggest, support, show, etc. Have you any evidence to support this allegation?
- The study provides empirical evidence (= based on experiments or experience) to prove that the drug has no long-term side effects.
- Anecdotal evidence (= based on personal accounts) suggests that drivers over the age of 70 find it difficult to get insurance.
- on the evidence of something On the evidence of their recent matches, it is unlikely the Spanish team will win.
- In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it should be assumed that proper procedures were followed.
Language Bank evidenceevidenceGiving proof- There is clear evidence that TV advertising influences what children buy.
- It is clear from numerous studies that TV advertising influences what children buy.
- Recent research demonstrates that TV advertising influences children’s spending habits.
- Many parents think that TV advertising influences their children. This view is supported by the findings of a recent study, which show a clear link between television advertisements and children’s spending habits.
- The findings also reveal that most children are unaware of the persuasive purpose of advertising.
- There is little evidence that children understand the persuasive intent of advertising.
- The results contradict claims that advertising is unrelated to children’s spending habits.
- Manufacturers argue that it is difficult to prove that advertising alone influences what children buy.
Wordfinder- analysis
- evaluate
- evidence
- experiment
- hypothesis
- laboratory
- research
- result
- science
- study
Extra ExamplesTopics Scientific researcha2- We found further scientific evidence for this theory.
- The room bore evidence of a struggle.
- She mulled over these scraps of evidence.
- The first chapter reviews the evidence on how children learn language.
- No new evidence has contradicted this research.
- Another team of scientists has come up with conflicting evidence.
- Available evidence points to pilot error as the cause of the crash.
- The company denies, in the face of overwhelming evidence, that smoking causes cancer.
- The team cited evidence from a recent earthquake to back up their idea.
- Archaeologists found evidence of a rich and varied culture at the settlement.
- Scientists are looking for evidence of life on other planets.
- The figures provide concrete evidence of the bank's claim to provide the best service.
- He says he's been working hard, but I haven't seen any evidence of it.
- The tapes provided evidence of her intentions.
- The rise in crime is often cited as evidence of a general breakdown of authority.
- The scandal is damning evidence of the government's contempt for democracy.
- He cited Australia's sporting success as evidence for his theory.
- I'll accept this as prima facie evidence that there might be a problem.
- There is ample evidence that the world is getting hotter.
- Evidence is accumulating that a defective gene may be responsible for this disease.
- Scientists have found fresh evidence to suggest that a huge explosion led to the death of the dinosaurs.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- abundant
- ample
- considerable
- …
- piece
- scrap
- body
- …
- have
- look for
- search for
- …
- exist
- come to light
- emerge
- …
- as evidence
- in evidence
- on… evidence
- …
- to be in evidence
- in the face of evidence
- in the teeth of evidence
- …
- [uncountable] the information that is used in court to try to prove something
- I was asked to give evidence (= to say what I knew, describe what I had seen, etc.) at the trial.
- The defence accused the prosecution of withholding several key pieces of evidence.
- circumstantial/forensic evidence
- evidence against somebody Despite a lack of evidence against him, Burton will appear in court next week.
- He was released when the judge ruled there was no evidence against him.
- as evidence of something The emails were presented as evidence of his involvement in the fraud.
- in evidence The police officer took a statement which was later used in evidence.
Wordfinder- accuse
- appeal
- counsel
- defendant
- evidence
- justice
- offence
- plea
- prosecution
- trial
Collocations Criminal justiceCriminal justiceBreaking the lawsee also circumstantial, King’s evidence, Queen’s evidence, state’s evidence- break/violate/obey/uphold the law
- be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
- be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges
- be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
- be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud
- face two charges of indecent assault
- admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
- deny the allegations/claims/charges
- confess to a crime
- grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
- stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
- take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
- face/avoid/escape prosecution
- seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
- hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
- sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
- sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock
- plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
- be called to/enter (British English) the witness box
- take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand
- call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
- give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
- raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
- reach a unanimous/majority verdict
- return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
- convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
- secure a conviction/your acquittal
- lodge/file an appeal
- appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
- pass sentence on somebody
- carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
- receive/be given the death penalty
- be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
- carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)
- be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
- do/serve time/ten years
- be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
- be/put somebody/spend X years on death row
- be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumenta2, Crime and punishmenta2, Law and justicea2- The jury heard evidence from 38 witnesses.
- They will weigh this evidence and come to a rational conclusion.
- They convicted the wrong man on the basis of a signed confession with no corroborative evidence.
- There was a mass of circumstantial evidence linking Watson to the murder.
- The team have been collecting evidence about war crimes.
- A photo of the victim's injuries was produced in evidence.
- The judge can decide whether to admit or exclude evidence.
- The court was shown photographic evidence.
- evidence linking her to the crime
- She admitted giving false evidence to the court.
- Prosecutors say they destroyed evidence related to the case.
- In the light of new evidence, a new enquiry into the crash is likely to take place.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- abundant
- ample
- considerable
- …
- piece
- scrap
- body
- …
- have
- look for
- search for
- …
- exist
- come to light
- emerge
- …
- as evidence
- in evidence
- on… evidence
- …
- to be in evidence
- in the face of evidence
- in the teeth of evidence
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin evidentia, from evident- ‘obvious to the eye or mind’, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + videre ‘to see’.
Idioms
(on) the balance of evidence/probability
- (formal) (considering) the evidence on both sides of an argument, to find the most likely reason for or result of something
- The balance of evidence suggests the Liberal party's decline began before the First World War.
- The coroner thought that on the balance of probabilities, the pilot had suffered a stroke just before the crash.
(be) in evidence
- (to be) present and clearly seen
- The police were much in evidence at today's demonstration.
- a trend that has been much in evidence in recent years