# prove

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɹuːv/ · frequency rank #1,771

## Definitions
1. To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for; to bear out; to testify.
2. To turn out; to manifest.
3. To turn out to be.
4. To put to the test, to make trial of.
5. To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify.
6. To experience.
7. To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of.
8. Alternative form of proof (“allow (dough) to rise; test the activeness of (yeast); pressure-test (a firearm)”).
9. To determine by experiment which effects a substance causes when ingested.

## Etymology
From Middle English proven, from Old English prōfian (“to esteem, regard as, evince, try, prove”) and Old French prover (“to prove”), both from Latin probō (“test, try, examine, approve, show to be good or fit, prove”, verb), from probus (“good, worthy, excellent”), from Proto-Indo-European *pro-bʰuH-s (“being in front, prominent”), from *pro-, *per- (“toward”) + *bʰuH- (“to be”). Displaced native Middle English sothen (“to prove”), from Old English sōþian (“to prove”). Doublet of probe. More at for, be, soothe.

## Easily confused with
- **proxy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-proxy)
- **prune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-prune)
- **Provo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-provo)
- **prowl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-prowl)
- **prude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-prude)
- **proved** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-proved)
- **proven** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-proven)
- **proves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-proves)
- **provide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-provide)
- **provoke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-provoke)
- **proverb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-proverb)
- **pro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pro-vs-prove)
- **Poe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poe-vs-prove)
- **POV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pov-vs-prove)
- **pope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pope-vs-prove)
- **pole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pole-vs-prove)
- **pose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pose-vs-prove)
- **pros** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pros-vs-prove)
- **prom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prom-vs-prove)
- **prop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prop-vs-prove)

## Common misspellings (7)
`porve`, `pprove`, `proev`, `provve`, `prrove`, `prvoe`, `rpove`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prove