prove

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to show a particular quality or result after some time.

v. to manifest a particular quality or result over time. Often functions as a copular verb followed by an adjective or 'to be'.

“The new task proved to be much more difficult than we first thought.”

“Initial skepticism regarding the merger proved unfounded as the company's stock price climbed steadily throughout the following quarter.”

C1 · Advanced Law Formal

v. to test something to see if it is good, strong, or works correctly.

v. to put to the test or make trial of; to establish the validity or technical genuineness of something.

“The lawyer had to prove the will in court before the family could inherit the money.”

“Before the new artillery could be deployed, each unit had to be proved under extreme pressure to ensure structural integrity.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Cooking

v. to leave dough in a warm place so it gets bigger before baking.

v. to allow dough to rise by the action of yeast; to test the activity of yeast before mixing.

“You should prove the dough for an hour until it has doubled in size.”

“If you fail to prove the bread sufficiently, the final loaf will be dense and lack the desired airy texture.”

C2 · Proficiency Printing Technical

v. to print a trial copy of something to check for mistakes.

v. to take a trial impression of type or a plate for the purpose of making corrections.

“The editor asked the printer to prove the final pages before the main run.”

“The lithographer carefully proved the plate to ensure the colors were aligned perfectly before starting the full production cycle.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Cooking Technical

n. the time or process of letting bread dough rise.

n. the stage in bread baking where the shaped dough is left to rise before entering the oven.

“The bread needs a long, slow prove in the fridge to develop more flavor.”

“During the final prove, the baker monitored the ambient temperature closely to prevent the yeast from over-fermenting.”