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to bear out

to bear out

7 4.7
Show by facts that something is true
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɛr aʊt/
translation icon : confirmar
  • The survey results bear out the company's claims about customer satisfaction.
  • bears out the contention
  • bear out the findings
  • bear out this conclusion

However, closer examination does not bear out this assumption.

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Examples

  • The data collected over the past year bear out our initial assumptions about the project.

  • The results of the analysis bear out our argument.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The examples in this article do not bear out the first point.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The decline we have seen so far seems to bear out this conclusion.

    Academic text (1992)
  • And our findings in fact bear out this hypothesis.

  • However, closer examination does not bear out this assumption.

  • The most recent data available from the Department of Energy bear out our no-growth scenario.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The numbers published by the U.S. government do not bear out claims of a close link between terrorism and authoritarianism either.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Most, if not all, of Borges's stories bear out Gass's argument.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Analyses of Ghana's development by international institutions seem to bear out this history of liberal progress.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

to confirm
vsto bear out
1.8

To show that something is true by giving evidence

does the same by adding authority as well as facts
to support
vsto bear out
572 2.1

Give facts or evidence that show a claim is true

does the same but often adds authoritative confirmation as well
to verify
vsto bear out
251 3.5

To make sure something is true or correct

does this by presenting facts or authority to show truth
to testify
vsto bear out
142 4.9

To show that something is true with proof

does this by presenting facts or authoritative confirmation
to corroborate
vsto bear out
111 9.0

Use evidence to show that a statement or idea is true

shows something is true using facts or official authority
to vouch
vsto bear out
99 5.0

Say that someone is honest or reliable because you know them

relies more on factual or official proof than personal guarantee
to validate
vsto bear out
  • Formal
87 3.9

To make something officially acceptable by showing proof

is broader, using facts or authority to show something is true
to vouch for
vsto bear out
82 4.9

Say that a person or thing can be trusted

depends more on facts or authority than on personal assurance
to attest
vsto bear out
  • Formal
57 6.6

To officially confirm that something is true, often in court

is similar but can use general authority, not only formal witnessing
to evidence
vsto bear out
  • Formal
46 6.5

To show that something is true

uses such proof to demonstrate truth or back a claim
to substantiate
vsto bear out
  • Formal
44 7.2

To show that something is true by giving proof or facts

aims to show truth by offering facts or authoritative confirmation
to underpin
vsto bear out
  • Formal
14 6.3

Support an idea or argument with facts and reasons

uses those reasons to show the idea is actually true
to buttress a claim
vsto bear out
  • Formal
6.7

To give more evidence or reasons to make a claim stronger

focuses on proving truth by offering facts or authority
to abduce
vsto bear out
  • Formal
9.9

To give evidence that supports an idea or conclusion

is broader, showing truth directly rather than through inference alone

Antonyms

174 3.7

To say that something is not true or the opposite of what someone says

66 4.5

To show that an idea or claim is not true

How Supported

to prove
3.1
to confirm
1.8
to bear out
7 4.7
to support
572 2.1
to suggest
2.1

Surface Forms

bear out infinitive
bearing out present participle
bears out third person singular
bore out past
borne out past participle

Morphology

bear + out

The verb 'bear' can mean 'to carry' or 'to support', which relates to the MWE sense of providing support for a claim, so a learner who knows that sense could partly infer the meaning. However, the addition of 'out' and the specific shift to 'confirm/verify by evidence' is somewhat metaphorical and not fully predictable without exposure, and cross-linguistic realizations vary, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Bear out comes from the simple image of bear meaning 'carry' and out meaning 'into the open'. One popular story says that if you 'carry' evidence out into the light, it shows the truth, so facts that bear out a story 'support' or 'confirm' it.