verify

verb

ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce verify (audio)
verified; verifying

transitive verb

1
: to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of
verify the claim
2
: to confirm or substantiate in law by oath
verifier noun
Choose the Right Synonym for verify

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 verify in a Sentence

She verified her flight number. He verified that the item was in stock. Can you verify whether I am scheduled to work or not?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bank statements: Lenders typically require statements from the past two months to verify you have adequate savings and to check for any red flags. Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025 To verify the laws and guidelines in your state, contact your local child welfare agency. Sarah Scott, Parents, 31 Jan. 2025 Thousands of families have flooded the state’s emergency assistance shelter program over the past year and a half, including migrants from other countries, but the Healey administration said state law bars them from verifying basic eligibility requirements prior to their initial placement. Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 30 Jan. 2025 Democrats call bill a ‘total disconnect’ January 24, 2025 9:56 AM Read Next State Politics Idaho lawmakers consider requiring employers to verify immigration status of workers January 24, 2025 4:00 AM This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM. Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for verify 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English verifien, borrowed from Anglo-French verifier, borrowed from Medieval Latin vērificāre, from Latin vērus "true" + -ficāre -fy — more at very entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of verify was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near verify

Cite this Entry

“Verify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verify. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

verify

verb
ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce verify (audio)
verified; verifying
: to prove or check the truth, accuracy, or reality of
verify the claim
verifier noun
Etymology

Middle English verifien "to establish the truth of," from early French verifier (same meaning), from Latin verificare (same meaning), from earlier verus "true" — related to verdict, very

Legal Definition

verify

transitive verb
ver·​i·​fy ˈver-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce verify (audio)
verified; verifying
1
: to confirm or substantiate by oath, affidavit, or deposition
verify a motion
2
: to establish the truth, accuracy, or reality of
Etymology

Anglo-French verifier, from Medieval Latin verificare, from Latin verus true + -ficare to make

More from Merriam-Webster on verify

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