ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prove to be sth

idiom
Meaning

to show a specific quality or result over time, especially when it is different from what you expected.


Examples
SIMPLE

The new employee proved to be very helpful.

CONTEXTUAL

The long hike proved to be more difficult than we expected because of the heavy rain.

COMPLEX

Although the initial investment seemed risky, the project eventually proved to be a significant success for the entire company.

Last updated April 22, 2026