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

establish

verb
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they establish
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
he / she / it establishes
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪz/
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪz/
past simple established
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃt/
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃt/
past participle established
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃt/
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃt/
-ing form establishing
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/
 
/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/
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  1. establish something to start or create an organization, a system, etc. that is meant to last for a long time synonym set up
    • The committee was established in 1912.
    • They now hope to establish a centre in Cuba.
    • The company established a base in Florida last year.
    • to establish a state/government/group/school
    • to establish standards/principles
    • Let’s establish some ground rules.
    • The proposal would establish a system of inspections of prisons worldwide.
    • They are establishing a network of pumps and pipelines to move the oil.
    • The new treaty establishes a free trade zone.
    Extra Examples
    • Its goal is to establish a fund which will support young people in need of help.
    • He sought to establish a dynasty as well as a business empire.
    • The king supported efforts to establish an opera company in England.
    • They have established a basic framework of ground rules for discussions.
    • The internet was originally established by scientists to share information.
    • The League was formally established in 1920.
    • We have successfully established clear rules that most students accept.
    • A straightforward complaints procedure must be established from the outset.
    • Settlers established a new colony in the early 18th century.
    • The Americans established a naval base on the island in the 1960s.
    • The Romans established a settlement on the south shore.
    • The generals established a military dictatorship.
    • The nuns established a convent here in 1692.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • initially
    • originally
    • formally
    verb + establish
    • attempt to
    • seek to
    • try to
    phrases
    • an attempt to establish something
    • an effort to establish something
    • newly established
    See full entry
  2. establish something to start having a relationship, especially a formal one, with another person, group or country
    • to establish relations/links/contacts/connections
    • The school is trying to establish a relationship with the local community.
    Extra Examples
    • The two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic relations.
    • We try to establish links with schools.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • initially
    • originally
    • formally
    verb + establish
    • attempt to
    • seek to
    • try to
    phrases
    • an attempt to establish something
    • an effort to establish something
    • newly established
    See full entry
  3. to hold a position for long enough or succeed in something well enough to make people accept and respect you
    • establish somebody/something/yourself He has now firmly established his position in the organization.
    • The school has established a reputation for academic excellence.
    • It took him a long time to establish himself.
    • He has just set up his own business but it will take him a while to get established.
    • establish somebody/something/yourself as something The exhibition helped to establish her as an artist.
    • By then she was established as a star.
    • establish somebody/something/yourself in something Not long after that she established herself in business.
    Extra Examples
    • It was his second symphony that established him.
    • She has established herself as one of the country's top new female artists.
    • He quickly established his reputation as a popular musician.
    • We have now clearly established ourselves as the leader in the market.
    Topics Successb2
  4. to make people accept a belief, claim, custom etc.
    • establish something This success helped to establish the practice of vaccination.
    • Traditions get established over time.
    • It was the outbreak of the Second World War that established the tradition of the monarch's Christmas broadcast.
    • establish something as something The festival has become established as an annual event.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • firmly
    • securely
    • fully
    verb + establish
    • attempt to
    • seek to
    • try to
    preposition
    • as
    phrases
    • become established
    • get established
    • previously established
    See full entry
  5. to discover or prove the facts of a situation synonym ascertain
    • establish something Police are still trying to establish the cause of the accident.
    • There will be an investigation to establish the facts.
    • We are still trying to establish the identity of the dead man.
    • His guilt has been clearly established.
    • The effectiveness of the new drug has not yet been scientifically established.
    • establish that… They have established that his injuries were caused by a fall.
    • establish where, what, etc… We need to establish where she was at the time of the shooting.
    • it is established that… It has since been established that the horse was drugged.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • conclusively
    • definitely
    • definitively
    verb + establish
    • attempt to
    • seek to
    • try to
    phrases
    • an attempt to establish something
    • an effort to establish something
    See full entry
  6. Word Originlate Middle English (recorded earlier as stablish): from Old French establiss-, lengthened stem of establir, from Latin stabilire ‘make firm’, from stabilis (adjective) ‘stable’.
See establish in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee establish in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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