confirm

verb

con·​firm kən-ˈfərm 

confirmed; confirming; confirms

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

confirmability

kən-ˌfər-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

confirmable

kən-ˈfər-mə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• argue
• attest
• authenticate
• bear out
• certify
• corroborate
• substantiate
• support
• validate
• verify
• vindicate

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of confirm in a Sentence

The tests confirmed the doctors' suspicions of cancer.

The attack confirmed her worst fears about the neighborhood.

The award confirmed her status as one of the great movie actresses.

The dentist's office called to confirm your appointment for tomorrow.

We have a reservation for you for tomorrow night. Please call to confirm.

Recent Examples on the Web

Variety confirms the project, which does not have an official title, is being set up at Netflix, where Fincher has a first-look deal. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025

Billionaire Lawrence Stroll, who is chairman of Aston Martin and who controls its F1 team as a separate concern, also confirmed that Aston Martin would be a sponsor for its F1 team for the long haul. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025

The couple was spotted out together in New York City on Monday, March 31st, following the birth of their baby, PEOPLE confirmed. —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025

The company also confirmed a pest was found inside a meal sold to a customer on Friday at a different location. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French cunfermer, from Latin confirmare, from com- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for confirm

• affirm
• bookworm
• cutworm
• earthworm
• infirm
• midterm
• tapeworm
• wireworm
• angiosperm
• echinoderm
• berm
• ferm

Kids Definition

confirm

verb

con·​firm kən-ˈfərm 

1

: to make firm or firmer (as in habit, faith, or intention) : strengthen

2

: approve sense 2, ratify

confirm a treaty

3

: to administer confirmation to

4

: to make sure of the truth of : verify

confirm a suspicion

confirmable

-ˈfər-mə-bəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

confirm

transitive verb

con·​firm

1

a

: to make valid by necessary formal approval

the debtor's chapter 13 plan confirmed by the court

b

: to vote approval of

confirm a nomination

2

: to give formal acknowledgment of receipt of

3

: to remove doubt about by authoritative act or indisputable fact

a consent decree confirming Capt. Brown's right to his cargo

—W. G. Young