prove

prove [ pruv ] (past participle proved or prov|en [ `pruvn ] ) verb ***

1. ) transitive to provide evidence that shows that something is true:

prove (that): You have to prove you are sorry for what you've done.

prove someone's innocence/guilt: He is still fighting to prove his innocence.

prove something to someone: She was determined to prove to her parents that she could live on her own.

prove someone right/wrong etc.: Recent excellent results have proved the critics wrong.

a ) to show that something is true using the principles of mathematics or science

2. ) linking verb if something proves to have a particular quality, things happen that show it has that quality:

My decision proved to be a good one.

The movie is proving very profitable.

His injuries proved fatal (=he died because of them).

3. ) intransitive if bread proves, it increases in size before it is baked because of the YEAST it contains

have something to prove or have a point to prove

to try to show people how good, strong, intelligent, etc. you are because you think they do not realize it:

The team felt they had something to prove and played brilliantly.

prove your/a point

to make someone realize that you are right:

Just to prove his point, Kyle showed her the word in the dictionary.

prove yourself

to show how good you are at doing something:

The role gave him the chance to prove himself as an actor.