verify

USAGE SUMMARY

'verify' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb meaning to prove or establish the truth or accuracy of something. Example sentence: I had to verify my identity before entering the building.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In a lengthy rebuttal, Dannatt said he had made it clear to the undercover reporters that "I would need to meet the manufacturer and verify for myself whether the product was viable.

The Guardian

Owaahh's team is also asking for links to source and verify the information collected.

The Guardian

Last week Norway's intelligence agency, the PST, said it was attempting to verify reports that a Norwegian citizen had been involved in the assault on the shopping centre, which lasted four days.

The Guardian

A whole industry of adjudication has developed, with fulltime assessors travelling the world with trundle wheels and stopwatches to verify claims.

The Guardian - Opinion

To verify her relationship with Invisible Children, and her knowledge of the region, Liz sent me a copy of her thesis on "stakeholder perspective on how to holistically support children who have experienced conflict in Northern Uganda", which makes frequent references to her time with the organisation.

The Guardian

The problem is how to verify this claim when there are no figures to back it up.

The Guardian

A charitable trust could act to verify whether a revamped Press Complaints Commission was doing its job, a press steering group told a meeting of newspaper editors and executives held in Central London on Thursday morning.

The Guardian

Kevin Corsaro, a spokesman for the customs and border protection division of the department of homeland security, said it wanted to verify Khan's identity and purpose of travel.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Guardian is unable to verify this report.

The Guardian

"The fact that the Syrian authorities ordered the pictures to be taken in order to verify that the services had actually killed the person they reported as dead is an indication of the regime's intentional, systematic and repeated crimes against its own population," the Belgian representative, Pascal Buffin, said.

The Guardian

It is also the world's most dangerous place to be a journalist with independent reports from country difficult to verify.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "verify" when you need to confirm the accuracy or truth of information using evidence or investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "verify" in overly casual conversations; simpler words like "check" or "confirm" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "verify" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being verified. Examples from Ludwig show its use in contexts requiring confirmation or validation of information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "verify" functions as a transitive verb, primarily employed to confirm the truth or accuracy of something. As Ludwig highlights, it finds frequent application in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific contexts. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness in written English. While synonyms like "confirm" and "validate" exist, "verify" often suggests a more rigorous investigation. When aiming to convey a sense of thoroughness and accuracy, "verify" is an apt and reliable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confirm

This term suggests establishing the truth or correctness of something, similar to "verify".

authenticate

Focuses on proving that something is genuine, which is a specific type of verification.

validate

Emphasizes checking the validity or legitimacy of something, sharing a similar core meaning.

substantiate

This implies providing evidence to support the truth of a claim, akin to verifying it.

corroborate

Means to support with evidence or authority, often used when multiple sources are involved.

prove

Indicates demonstrating something is true beyond doubt, a stronger form of "verify".

ascertain

Involves finding something out for certain, ensuring clarity similar to verification.

check

A more general term for examining something to ensure it is correct or satisfactory.

determine

Suggests making a firm decision about something after investigation, related to establishing truth.

establish

Highlights the process of setting something firmly or proving it, similar to verifying.

FAQs

How can I use "verify" in a sentence?

You can use "verify" to describe the act of confirming the truth or accuracy of something. For example, "Please "verify" your email address by clicking the link in the email we sent."

What's a simple synonym for "verify"?

A simple synonym for "verify" is "check", which is suitable in less formal contexts. For example, "Check" that the door is locked before leaving.

Is there a difference between "verify" and "validate"?

"Verify" means to prove or check the truth of something, while "validate" means to check or prove the validity or accuracy of something. They are often interchangeable, but "validate" often refers to something being officially recognized or accepted.

When should I use "verify" instead of "confirm"?

While both words mean to establish the truth of something, "verify" often implies a more thorough investigation or use of evidence. "Confirm" can be used for more straightforward acknowledgments or assurances.