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Definition of confirm verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

confirm

verb
 
/kənˈfɜːm/
 
/kənˈfɜːrm/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they confirm
 
/kənˈfɜːm/
 
/kənˈfɜːrm/
he / she / it confirms
 
/kənˈfɜːmz/
 
/kənˈfɜːrmz/
past simple confirmed
 
/kənˈfɜːmd/
 
/kənˈfɜːrmd/
past participle confirmed
 
/kənˈfɜːmd/
 
/kənˈfɜːrmd/
-ing form confirming
 
/kənˈfɜːmɪŋ/
 
/kənˈfɜːrmɪŋ/
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  1. to state or show that something is definitely true or correct, especially by providing evidence
    • confirm something His guilty expression confirmed my suspicions.
    • to confirm a diagnosis/report
    • to confirm results/findings
    • Rumours of job losses were later confirmed.
    • We have yet to confirm the identities of the victims.
    • She said she could not confirm or deny the allegations.
    • The authorities refused to confirm any details.
    • confirm (that)… Police sources confirmed that ten people had been arrested at the march.
    • confirm to somebody/something that… A government official confirmed to the newspaper that Britain was pushing hard for an end to the arms embargo.
    • confirm what/when, etc… Can you confirm what happened?
    • it is confirmed that… It has been confirmed that an official complaint was made to the council.
    Extra Examples
    • I wanted to find a way to confirm the results.
    • Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus.
    • The Ministry of Defence confirmed the deaths of three soldiers.
    • These new symptoms tend to confirm my original diagnosis.
    • These results were independently confirmed in a study of 48 patients.
    • Your vet will suggest some tests to help confirm the diagnosis.
    • Both teams played badly, which confirms the impression left by earlier games.
    • The doctor confirmed my suspicions and prescribed an antibiotic.
    • The results confirm the findings of our earlier research.
    Topics Scientific researchb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • just
    • merely
    • only
    verb + confirm
    • be able to
    • be unable to
    • can
    See full entry
  2. to make a position, an agreement, etc. more definite or official; to establish somebody/something clearly
    • confirm something Please write to confirm your reservation (= say that it is definite).
    • After a six-month probationary period, her position was confirmed.
    • confirm (that)… Has everyone confirmed (that) they’re coming?
    • it is confirmed that… It has been confirmed that the meeting will take place next week.
    • confirm somebody as something He was confirmed as captain for the rest of the season.
    • confirm somebody in something I'm very happy to confirm you in your post.
    Extra Examples
    • The plans were officially confirmed yesterday.
    • I booked online and rang later to confirm.
    • It has been confirmed that Moore's next fight will be against Michael Jones.
    Topics Discussion and agreementb2
  3. to make somebody feel or believe something even more strongly
    • confirm something The walk in the mountains confirmed his fear of heights.
    • confirm somebody in something This latest tragedy merely confirms my view that the law must be tightened.
  4. [usually passive] to perform the Christian or Jewish ceremony of confirmation
    • be confirmed She was baptized when she was a month old and confirmed when she was thirteen.
    Topics Religion and festivalsc2
  5. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French confermer, from Latin confirmare, from con- ‘together’ + firmare ‘strengthen’ (from firmus ‘firm’).
See confirm in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee confirm in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
dizzy
adjective
 
 
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