testify

USAGE SUMMARY

"testify" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean to give evidence in a court of law, to bear witness to something, or to make a statement in support of something. Example: The witness testified in court that he had seen the suspect commit the crime.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dunn is expected to testify at the inquiry.

The Guardian

There is a group of lawyers and defendants who will be able to testify to this effect.

The Guardian

As Jay Leno remarked about the Bill Cosby situation this week: "You go to Saudi Arabia and you need two women to testify against a man; here, you need 25".

The Guardian - Opinion

Many of those who volunteered as purple-clad games makers at the 2012 London Olympics will testify to that.

The Guardian

Lance Armstrong is reportedly ready to testify against several people within the world of cycling who helped cover up his doping past after finally confessing to using performance enhancing drugs, it has been claimed.

The Guardian - Sport

In April 2004, while serving in a senior position at Guantánamo, Zuley returned to Chicago to testify at an evidentiary hearing.

The Guardian

Horowitz also made it clear that accusations made against Rodriguez were never rebutted by the Yankees' third baseman, who did not testify on his own behalf.

The Guardian - Sport

But anyone living here will be able to testify that over the last five years, the area has improved significantly and has become safer to walk through and live in.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet while the external environment has altered radically, inside Saudi Arabia itself, as campaigners testify, little, if anything, has changed.

The Guardian

I can testify to that because I was doing 140 in my Ute when I got to the hill outside Marysville that afternoon, and it was dumping spot fires as big as my house in front of me… kaboom, kaboom, kaboom!

The Guardian

House Republicans voted Wednesday to hold a former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify at a pair of committee hearings about her role in the agency's tea party controversy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To make your point stronger, back up your "testify" statement with related actions

Common error

Avoid using "testify" in casual conversation; it's a formal term suitable for official declarations and legal settings. Use words like 'say', 'state' or 'mention' in normal conversations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "testify" is as a verb. It describes the action of giving evidence or making a formal statement, often under oath. Ludwig examples show its use in legal and non-legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "testify" is a versatile verb with applications in various contexts, primarily denoting the act of giving evidence or making a formal declaration. Ludwig's AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English, commonly appearing in News & Media. When using "testify", remember that it's appropriate for official or serious declarations rather than casual conversation. Consider alternatives such as "give evidence" or "bear witness" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give evidence

Focuses on the act of providing information in a formal setting.

bear witness

Implies a personal observation or experience being recounted.

attest to

Emphasizes the truth or validity of something.

depose

Refers to giving sworn testimony, often in a legal context but outside of court.

state under oath

Highlights the formal and binding nature of the declaration.

declare

A general term for making a formal statement.

affirm

Suggests a strong confirmation of something.

vouch for

Indicates support based on personal experience or knowledge.

certify

Implies an official confirmation or endorsement.

swear

Highlights the solemnity and truthfulness of the statement.

FAQs

How to use "testify" in a sentence?

You can use "testify" to describe giving evidence in court, as in: "The witness will "testify" about what she saw". Alternatively, it can mean making a statement based on personal knowledge.

What can I say instead of "testify"?

You can use alternatives like "give evidence", "bear witness", or "attest to" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the word "testify"?

"Testify" is best used when referring to formal situations such as legal proceedings or when making a serious declaration of truth based on personal experience. Refrain from using it in informal settings.

Which is correct, "testify" or "give a testimony"?

"Testify" is a verb meaning to give testimony. "Give a testimony" is also correct, but it uses "testimony" as a noun. A subtle but important difference is that "testify" implies to provide evidence and to "give testimony" implies to share a speech that makes a statement of facts.