to establish

Examples

• All

• A three-day evidentiary hearing was held in January 2008 to establish the facts of the case.

  Academic text (2011)

• The first task is to establish what academia knew and did not know.

  Academic text (2011)

• And what do you have to establish in those seven seconds?

• How do you establish trust with a potential victim?

• How did you establish that?

  Dirty Harry (1971)

• Thank you for helping me establish the truth of my assumption.

• I'm trying to establish when exactly that happened.

  Bloodsuckers (2005)

• The primary researcher employed a variety of methods to establish the dependability of the data.

  Academic text (2011)

• The project also served to establish a baseline of human impacts on marine ecosystems.

  Academic text (2011)

• The scientist conducted several experiments to establish the accuracy of his hypothesis.

Synonyms

S

to show

vsto establish

∞ 1.0

To give proof that something is true

is about proving truth through evidence, reasoning, or demonstration in general

P

to prove

vsto establish

∞ 3.1

To show that something is true by giving facts or reasons

is broader and applies to general evidence or demonstration rather than only formal methods

C

to confirm

vsto establish

∞ 1.8

To show that something is true by giving evidence

is mainly about showing truth through demonstration or reasoning rather than only removing doubt

D

to determine

vsto establish

781 2.3

To find out a fact by checking or measuring

focuses on proving truth publicly rather than simply discovering or identifying facts

D

to demonstrate

vsto establish

579 3.0

Show that something is true using evidence or examples

focuses on practical showing through examples rather than abstract argument or reasoning

V

to verify

vsto establish

251 3.5

To make sure something is true or correct

is about showing fundamental truth rather than merely checking accuracy or correctness

C

to corroborate

vsto establish

111 9.0

Use evidence to show that a statement or idea is true

usually means proving truth itself rather than only adding supporting facts to a claim

V

to validate

vsto establish

• Formal

87 3.9

To make something officially acceptable by showing proof

tends to be broader, covering proof by evidence or reasoning beyond formal approval

A

to ascertain

vsto establish

59 5.7

To find out for sure by checking the facts

aims at showing truth outwardly rather than only confirming it for oneself

A

to attest

vsto establish

• Formal

57 6.6

To officially confirm that something is true, often in court

covers general proof by evidence or reasoning and not only formal legal witnessing

E

to evidence

vsto establish

• Formal

46 6.5

To show that something is true

usually names the supporting facts themselves rather than the act of proving

D

to deduce

vsto establish

45 4.6

Figure out something from facts or evidence

relies more on presenting external proof than on the internal reasoning process alone

S

to substantiate

vsto establish

• Formal

44 7.2

To show that something is true by giving proof or facts

often covers broader showing of truth rather than only supplying supporting material

S

to sustain

vsto establish

• Formal

14 4.7

To support an idea or claim with evidence

often focuses on proving truth itself rather than merely strengthening an existing argument

C

to certify

vsto establish

• Formal

3 3.8

To give formal proof that something is true

is more general, applying to proving truth by evidence rather than only formal attestation

Antonyms

D

to disprove

66 4.5

To show that an idea or claim is not true

I

to invalidate

• Formal

33 6.1

To make a document or agreement have no legal effect anymore

Phrasal Verbs

E

to establish a framework

• Formal

4.4

To create a basic plan that guides later work

How Proven

to establish

• Formal

319 4.1

to prove

∞ 3.1

to demonstrate

579 3.0

to support

572 2.1

to indicate

834 2.7

to suggest

∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

Etymology