# prove

/ˈpɹuv/ (US) · /pɹˈuːv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prove
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to show truth

verb · CEFR B1

to show that something is definitely true by using facts or evidence.

For teachers: to demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence or argument. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The police had enough evidence to prove that he was at the scene.
- The researchers published a peer-reviewed paper to prove their hypothesis regarding the long-term effects of the new medication.

### 2. to turn out to be

verb · CEFR B2

to show a particular quality or result after some time.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to test or verify

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. dough rising

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often spelled 'proof' in American English, but 'prove' is common in British English.

### 5. printing a trial

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. the rising process

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the time or process of letting bread dough rise.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The police have enough evidence to prove he is guilty.
- Scientists conducted several experiments to prove that the new medicine is safe for humans.
- While the initial data suggested a correlation, the researchers needed a larger sample size to prove their hypothesis beyond any reasonable doubt.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.