v. 1
To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for; to bear out; to testify.
I will prove that my method is more effective than yours.
v. 2
To turn out; to manifest.
It proved to be a cold day.
v. 3
To turn out to be.
The hope that he’d react proved utterly unfounded.

Related words

Word family: provability provable provably probe probity proof

Forms

Past participle: proved
e.g. proved → shown, substantiated, demonstrated, evidenced…

Choose the right word

Prove, Demonstrate or Establish?

To demonstrate is to force the mind to a conclusion by irresistible reasoning; to prove is rather to establish a fact by evidence; as, to prove one innocent or guilty.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

evidence From this evidence it follows that he is innocent.
establish You establish the property right by paying for it.
demonstrate He went on to demonstrate how to use the machine.
substantiate Sami won't be able to substantiate that alibi.
try The wholesalers might try to back out of the deal.
test If he is absent, we will not have an English test.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
prove		steady
evidence		steady
establish		falling
demonstrate		rising
substantiate		falling
try		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: try¹
4 letters: show¹, test¹, rise¹, shew¹
5 letters: raise¹, argue², essay², assay²
6 letters: verify³, attest², leaven², evince²
7 letters: confirm², examine³, justify³, sustain², testify³, certify³, betoken
8 letters: evidence³, manifest³
9 letters: establish³, terminate³, ascertain³, eventuate
11 letters: demonstrate³, corroborate⁴
12 letters: substantiate⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (argue² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: prouver
Italiano: provare
Català: demostrar