bear out
phr. v..phr. v.. to show that something is true or to support a piece of information with evidence.
phr. v.. to confirm or substantiate a claim, theory, or prediction; often used in formal or academic contexts regarding evidence.
The latest data bear out his theory.
The witness's story was borne out by the security camera footage from that night.
Initial concerns regarding the project's feasibility were borne out by the significant technical failures encountered during the testing phase.
- Particles
- out
- Separability
- optional
- Pattern
- bear + object + out
often used in the passive voice ('is borne out by') and typically takes evidence or facts as the subject.
remind students that the past participle is 'borne' (with an 'e'), which is often confused with 'born' (related to birth).
The facts born out his story.The facts bore out his story.the past tense of 'bear' is 'bore', and the past participle is 'borne'; 'born' is only for birth.