Establish — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /i-ˈsta-blish/ es·tab·lish

Meaning & Definition of Establish

Establish (verb)

  1. to institute (something, such as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement
  2. settle
  3. to make firm or stable

Establish (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to gain full recognition or acceptance of

    "a first novel that established him as one of the most promising writers of his generation"

    similar: demonstrate, prove, show, substantiate
    related: attest, authenticate, bear out, document, evidence, support, sustain, uphold, confirm, corroborate, justify, validate, verify
    opposite: disprove
    near: confute, discredit, invalidate, rebut, refute

  2. to show the existence or truth of by evidence

    "the developers haven't established that there's a need for another shopping center in town"

    similar: demonstrate, document, prove, substantiate, validate
    related: back (up), buttress, circumstantiate, corroborate, evidence, evince, record, support, uphold, witness, adduce, attest, authenticate, certify, identify, confirm, sustain, verify, vouch, clinch, nail, settle, confess, depose, testify
    opposite: disprove, rebut, refute
    near: challenge, dispute, object, allege, assume, conjecture, guess, presume, surmise, suspect

  3. to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

    "established the first school in the town"

    similar: begin, constitute, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start
    related: author, father, originate, conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up), construct, put up, develop, enlarge, expand, endow, finance, fund, subsidize, arrange, organize, systematize, systemize, refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch
    opposite: close (down), phase out, shut (up)
    near: abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify, end, finish, halt, stop, terminate, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Establish

The most common words with a similar meaning to Establish:

demonstrate, prove, show, substantiate, document, validate, begin, constitute, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Establish

Words with the opposite meaning of Establish:

disprove, rebut, refute, close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Related Words for Establish

attest, authenticate, bear out, evidence, support, sustain, uphold, confirm, corroborate, justify, verify, back (up), buttress, circumstantiate, evince, record, witness, adduce, certify, identify, vouch, clinch, nail, settle, confess, depose, testify, author, father, originate

Near Antonyms of Establish

confute, discredit, invalidate, challenge, dispute, object, allege, assume, conjecture, guess, presume, surmise, suspect, abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify, end, finish, halt, stop, terminate, round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Word Forms of Establish

Inflections: established, establishing, establishes

Derived words: establishable (adjective), establisher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Establish

Middle English establissen, from Anglo-French establiss-, stem of establir, from Latin stabilire, from stabilis stable

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Establish

Words & Phrases Containing Establish

preestablish, reestablish

Frequently Asked Questions about Establish

What does "Establish" mean?

"Establish" means to institute (something, such as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement. As a verb, it is defined as: to institute (something, such as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Establish"?

Other words for "Establish" include demonstrate, prove, show, substantiate, document, validate, begin and constitute. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Establish" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Establish"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Establish". Common alternatives include demonstrate, prove, show, substantiate, document, validate, begin, constitute, found and inaugurate.

What is the opposite of "Establish"?

Antonyms of "Establish" include disprove, rebut, refute, close (down), phase out and shut (up). Near antonyms include confute, discredit, invalidate and challenge.

How do you use "Establish" in a sentence?

Examples of "Establish" in a sentence: "a first novel that established him as one of the most promising writers of his generation"; "the developers haven't established that there's a need for another shopping center in town"; "established the first school in the town".

Is "Establish" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Establish" is a verb.

Is "Establish" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Establish" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Establish"?

"Establish" is pronounced /i-ˈsta-blish/ and divided into syllables as es·tab·lish.