con ‧ firm S2 W2 AC /kənˈfɜːm $ -ɜːrm/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ confirm ; noun : ↑ confirmation ; adjective : ↑ confirmed ≠ ↑ unconfirmed ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: confirmer , from Latin confirmare , from com- ( ⇨ COM- ) + firmare 'to make firm' ]
1 . to show that something is definitely true, especially by providing more proof OPP refute :
New evidence has confirmed the first witness’s story.
To confirm my diagnosis I need to do some tests.
confirm that
Research has confirmed that the risk is higher for women.
confirm what
The new results confirm what most of us knew already.
2 . to say that something is definitely true OPP deny :
The President refused to confirm the rumor.
Managers have so far refused to confirm or deny reports that up to 200 jobs are to go.
confirm that
Walsh confirmed that the money had been paid.
confirm what
My brother will confirm what I have told you.
3 . to tell someone that a possible arrangement, date, or situation is now definite or official:
Could you confirm the dates we discussed?
Smith was confirmed as the club’s new manager yesterday.
confirm a booking/reservation/appointment
I am writing to confirm a booking for a single room for the night of 6 June.
4 . to make you believe that your idea or feeling is right
confirm your fears/doubts/suspicions etc
This just confirms my worst fears.
confirm you in your belief/opinion/view etc (that) (=make you believe something more strongly)
The expression on his face confirmed me in my suspicions.
5 . be confirmed to be made a full member of the Christian church in a special ceremony
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THESAURUS
▪ confirm if a piece of new information confirms an idea or belief that people already have, it shows that it is definitely true:
Police have found new evidence that confirms his story.
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The discovery seems to confirm that people lived here over 10,000 years ago.
▪ prove to show that something is definitely true by providing facts:
DNA tests proved that he was the father of the child.
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I think we’ve proved that we are a good team.
▪ back up to provide additional information to help prove that a statement, belief, or explanation is correct:
When you write a history essay, you should back up all your points with facts.
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Wright was accused of pretending to be injured, and this was backed up by video evidence.
▪ support to help to prove that a belief, idea etc is probably true:
Do you have any evidence to support these claims?
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The notion that women are worse drivers than men is simply not supported by the facts.
▪ bear something out if facts or information bear out a claim or opinion, they suggest that something is likely to be true:
Most of the available evidence bears out the view that students learn better in small classes.
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Marriage is not always easy; a fact that is clearly borne out in divorce statistics.
▪ corroborate formal to provide additional information which supports or agrees with something – used in scientific and legal contexts:
Levine claims that a third car was involved in the accident and witnesses have corroborated this.
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Professor Carling’s findings have been corroborated by more recent research.
▪ substantiate formal to provide additional information that helps to prove that a statement is correct, especially if the statement is difficult to believe:
A police investigation failed to substantiate the claim that he had been sexually abused.
▪ validate formal to prove that information or results are correct by using scientific tests or very careful checking – used in scientific or technical contexts:
All the information used in this report has been validated by an independent panel of experts.