Word
testify
Phoneticstes·ti·fy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛstəˌfaɪ/
UK/tˈɛstɪfˌaɪ/
Definitions
01in a court of law
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
v. to make a formal statement in court, promising that what you say is true.
v. to give evidence as a witness in a court of law or before a judicial body, typically under oath.
“The witness was nervous when she had to testify in court about the accident.”
“Several former employees agreed to testify against the corporation, providing crucial evidence regarding the safety violations.”
Usage
The verb is often followed by 'against' or 'on behalf of' a person.
Synonyms
02to show or prove
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to be clear proof that something is true or exists.
v. to serve as evidence or proof of a particular fact, quality, or situation.
“His many awards testify to his hard work and talent over the years.”
“The high quality of the final product testifies to the meticulous attention to detail maintained throughout the manufacturing process.”
Usage
Usually takes the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03personal belief
C1 · Advanced Religion Formal
v. to speak openly about your personal experiences or religious beliefs.
v. to make a public statement about one's personal experiences, especially regarding religious faith or a transformative event.
“During the meeting, several people stood up to testify about how the group helped them.”
“Members of the congregation were invited to testify to their experiences of spiritual healing during the Sunday service.”
Usage
Often used intransitively in religious contexts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “testify” in context.
Verb
01. refuse to testify
“The key witness refused to testify after receiving several anonymous threats.”
verb + infinitive
02. testify for the prosecution
“Several former employees agreed to testify for the prosecution in the fraud trial.”
verb + prep + noun
03. testify to the truth
“Her calm demeanor testified to the truth of her statements during the cross-examination.”
verb + prep + noun
04. testify under oath
“The CEO was required to testify under oath regarding the company's financial discrepancies.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
05. falsely testify
“He was later charged with perjury for having falsely testified during the initial hearing.”
adv + verb
06. testify eloquently
“The restored buildings testify eloquently to the city's rich architectural heritage.”
verb + adv
07. willingly testify
“Despite the risks, she willingly testified against the organized crime syndicate.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“EM, however, testified that she was intoxicated and felt fearful of the men.” “Photographs of the youngest Romanov daughter testify to her rich sense of humor.” Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English testifien, borrowed from Old French testifier, from Latin testificārī (“to bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”) + facere (“to make”). See -fy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
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