proveverb
uk/pruːv/us/pruːv/proved, proved or mainly US provenprove verb (SHOW)
B2 [ T, L ] to show a particular result after a period of time:
The operation proved a complete success.
The dispute over the song rights proved impossible to resolve.
[ L (+ to be) ] The new treatment has proved to be a disaster.
prove yourself
C2 to show that you are good at something:
I wish he'd stop trying to prove himself all the time.
More examples
- The army has proved ineffective in protecting the civilian population.
- The policy of charging air travellers for vegetarian meals proved very unpopular.
- The government's claim that it would reduce taxes proved false.
- Such data will prove invaluable to researchers.
- Your daughter's attitude only goes to prove how much society has changed over the last 30 years.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Showing and demonstrating
- act
- act sth out
- attest
- barometer
- bespeak
- bring
- bring sth forward
- disclose
- flicker
- manifestation
- produce
- put up sth
- radiate
- revealing
- says something about sb/sth idiom
- shew
- strike
- suggest
- token
- wear
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prove verb (SHOWING TRUTH)
B1 [ T ] to show that something is true:
[ + that ] They suspected that she'd killed him but they could never actually prove that it was her.
[ + adj ] They proved him innocent/guilty.
Under the present system, you're innocent until proven guilty.
[ + question word ] "I lost £30 on the bus." "That just goes to prove what an idiot you are!"
Computers have been used to prove mathematical theorems.
That theory was proved false.
He's so aggressive - it's as if he's always trying to prove something.
More examples
- It will be very difficult to prove that they are guilty.
- The crime of rape is notoriously difficult to prove.
- She only bought that sports car to show off and prove she could afford one.
- The tape recordings provided enough evidence to prove he'd been involved in the conspiracy.
- The traces of petrol found on his clothing provided the forensic evidence proving that he had started the fire deliberately.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Proving and disproving
- actions speak louder than words idiom
- attest
- authenticate
- back sb up
- bear witness (to sth) idiom
- belie
- catch
- colour
- do justice to yourself idiom
- documentary
- evidence
- explode
- explosion
- proof
- stick
- testament
- the acid test
- the burden of proof idiom
- undocumented
- unsubstantiated
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proven
adjective uk/ˈpruː.vən//ˈprəʊ.vən/us/ˈpruː.vən/
You've got a proven work record, which gives you a big advantage.