First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
confirm
verb con·firm \kən-ˈfərm\
: to state or show that (something) is true or correct
: to tell someone that something has definitely happened or is going to happen : to make (something) definite or official
: to make (something) stronger or more certain : to cause (someone) to believe (something) more strongly
Full Definition of CONFIRM
transitive verb
1
: to give approval to : ratify <confirm a treaty>
2
: to make firm or firmer : strengthen <confirm one's resolve>
3
: to administer the rite of confirmation to
4
: to give new assurance of the validity of : remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable fact <confirm a rumor> <confirm an order>
— con·firm·abil·i·ty \-ˌfər-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— con·firm·able \-ˈfər-mə-bəl\ adjective
See confirm defined for English-language learners
See confirm defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of CONFIRM
Middle English, from Anglo-French cunfermer, from Latin confirmare, from com- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm
Related to CONFIRM
- Synonyms
- argue, attest, authenticate, bear out, certify, corroborate, substantiate, support, validate, verify, vindicate
Synonym Discussion of CONFIRM
confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate mean to attest to the truth or validity of something. confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact <confirmed the reports>. corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established <witnesses corroborated his story>. substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention <the claims have yet to be substantiated>. verify implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at <all statements of fact in the article have been verified>. authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion <handwriting experts authenticated the diaries>. validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof <validated the hypothesis by experiments>.
Rhymes with CONFIRM
affirm, bagworm, bloodworm, bookworm, budworm, cutworm, deworm, dew worm, earthworm, eelworm, flatworm, glowworm, heartworm, hookworm, hornworm, inchworm, infirm, long-term, lugworm, lungworm, midterm, pinworm, ringworm, roundworm, sandworm, screwworm, short-term, silkworm, tapeworm, webworm, woodworm
CONFIRM Defined for Kids
confirm
verb con·firm \kən-ˈfərm\
con·firmedcon·firm·ing
Definition of CONFIRM for Kids
1
: to make sure of the truth of <Their arrest confirms my suspicion.>
2
: to make firm or firmer (as in a habit, in faith, or in intention) : strengthen <The job at the shelter confirmed her intention to become a veterinarian.>
4
: to perform a ceremony admitting a person into a church or synagogue
Learn More About CONFIRM
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: confirmability theoryPrevious Word in the Dictionary: confinityAll Words Near: confirm
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up confirm? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).