Proof vs. Prove: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Proof is the evidence or argument establishing a fact, while prove is the act of establishing the truth or validity of something through evidence or argument.
Key Differences
Refers to the evidence or demonstration that establishes the truth of a statement or fact. It is often used as a noun in various contexts.
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Dec 05, 2023
This is a verb that describes the action of demonstrating the truth or validity of something, often through evidence or logical reasoning.
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Proof is what is presented or used to substantiate a claim, while prove is the process of establishing that truth.
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In law, proof is the collective evidence presented; in science, it's the outcome of experimentation. To prove something in these fields means to establish its validity through rigorous methods.
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Proof functions as a noun, whereas prove is used as a verb, denoting action or process.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Evidence or argument that establishes a fact
The act of demonstrating the truth of something
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Usage in Context
"The proof of his innocence was undeniable."
"She set out to prove her theory correct."
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Role in Argument
The substance or material of evidence
The process or action of establishing evidence
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Examples in Different Fields
Legal proof, mathematical proof, proof in printing
Prove a point, prove a theorem, prove a hypothesis
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Proof and Prove Definitions
Proof
Evidence that demonstrates a fact or statement is true.
The photographs served as proof of the rare bird's existence.
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Prove
To establish the truth or existence of something through evidence.
The scientist aimed to prove her hypothesis with experiments.
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Proof
A process to test or verify something.
The proof of the recipe's success was in its taste.
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Prove
To show oneself to be capable or qualified.
She proved herself to be an excellent leader during the crisis.
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Proof
The evidence or argument that compels the mind to accept an assertion as true.
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Prove
To confirm the authenticity or quality of something.
The jeweler proved the diamond's authenticity with a certificate.
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Proof
The validation of a proposition by application of specified rules, as of induction or deduction, to assumptions, axioms, and sequentially derived conclusions.
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Prove
To establish the truth or validity of (something) by the presentation of argument or evidence
The novel proves that the essayist can write in more than one genre. The storm proved him to be wrong in his prediction.
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Prove
To demonstrate the reality of (something)
He proved his strength by doing 50 pushups.
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Proof
Convincing or persuasive demonstration
Was asked for proof of his identity.
An employment history that was proof of her dependability.
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Prove
To show (oneself) to be what is specified or to have a certain characteristic
Proved herself to be a formidable debater.
Proved herself to be worthy of the task.
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Proof
The state of being convinced or persuaded by consideration of evidence.
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Prove
To establish by the required amount of evidence
Proved his case in court.
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Proof
Determination of the quality of something by testing; trial
Put one's beliefs to the proof.
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Proof
The establishment of the truth or falsity of an allegation by evidence.
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Proof
The evidence offered in support of or in contravention of an allegation.
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Proof
The alcoholic strength of a liquor, expressed by a number that is twice the percentage by volume of alcohol present.
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Proof
A trial sheet of printed material that is made to be checked and corrected. Also called proof sheet.
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Proof
A trial impression of a plate, stone, or block taken at any of various stages in engraving.
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Prove
To be shown to be such; turn out
A theory that proved impractical in practice.
A schedule that proved to be too demanding.
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Proof
Any of a limited number of newly minted coins or medals struck as specimens and for collectors from a new die on a polished planchet.
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Prove
(transitive) To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for.
I will prove that my method is more effective than yours.
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Proof
(Archaic) Proven impenetrability
"I was clothed in Armor of proof" (John Bunyan).
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Proof
Fully or successfully resistant; impervious. Often used in combination
Waterproof watches.
A fireproof cellar door.
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Prove
(copulative) To turn out to be.
Have an exit strategy should your calculations prove incorrect.
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Prove
(transitive) To put to the test, to make trial of.
They took the experimental car to the proving-grounds.
The exception proves the rule.
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Proof
Used to proofread or correct typeset copy
A proof copy of the manuscript.
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Prove
(transitive) To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify.
To prove a will
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Prove
(homeopathy) To determine by experiment which effects a substance causes when ingested.
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Prove
To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a standard measure.
Thou hast proved mine heart.
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Prove
To evince, establish, or ascertain, as truth, reality, or fact, by argument, testimony, or other evidence.
They have inferred much from slender premises, and conjectured when they could not prove.
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Prove
To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will.
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Proof
(countable) An effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.
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Prove
To gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by trial; to experience; to suffer.
Where she, captived long, great woes did prove.
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Proof
(uncountable) The degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments which induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.
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Prove
To test, evince, ascertain, or verify, as the correctness of any operation or result; thus, in subtraction, if the difference between two numbers, added to the lesser number, makes a sum equal to the greater, the correctness of the subtraction is proved.
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Proof
The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness which resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.
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Prove
To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page.
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Prove
To be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves false.
So life a winter's morn may prove.
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Proof
A proof sheet; a trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination.
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Proof
(numismatics) A limited-run high-quality strike of a particular coin, originally as a test run, although nowadays mostly for collectors' sets.
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Prove
Be shown or be found to be;
She proved to be right
The medicine turned out to save her life
She turned up HIV positive
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Proof
A sequence of statements consisting of axioms, assumptions, statements already demonstrated in another proof, and statements that logically follow from previous statements in the sequence, and which concludes with a statement that is the object of the proof.
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Prove
Establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment;
The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound
The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture
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Proof
A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Compare prove, transitive verb, 5.
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Prove
Provide evidence for;
The blood test showed that he was the father
Her behavior testified to her incompetence
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Proof
(obsolete) Armour of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armour of proof.
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Proof
(US) A measure of the alcohol content of liquor. Originally, in Britain, 100 proof was defined as 57.1% by volume (no longer used). In the US, 100 proof means that the alcohol content is 50% of the total volume of the liquid; thus, absolute alcohol would be 200 proof.
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Prove
Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to;
This approach has been tried with good results
Test this recipe
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Proof
Firm or successful in resisting.
Proof against harm
Waterproof; bombproof
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Proof
(of alcoholic liquors) Being of a certain standard as to alcohol content.
60% proof liquor
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Prove
To demonstrate the validity or truth of something.
He proved his theory using complex calculations.
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Proof
To test-fire with a load considerably more powerful than the firearm in question's rated maximum chamber pressure, in order to establish the firearm's ability to withstand pressures well in excess of those expected in service without bursting.
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Prove
To establish or test the truth or accuracy of something.
The detective set out to prove the suspect's guilt.
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Proof
Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.
For whatsoever mother wit or artCould work, he put in proof.
You shall have many proofs to show your skill.
Formerly, a very rude mode of ascertaining the strength of spirits was practiced, called the proof.
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Proof
That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.
I'll have some proof.
It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to confirm whatever he pleases.
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Proof
The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness that resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.
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Proof
A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; - called also proof sheet.
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Proof
Armor of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armor of proof.
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Proof
Firm or successful in resisting; as, proof against harm; waterproof; bombproof.
I . . . have found theeProof against all temptation.
This was a good, stout proof article of faith.
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Proof
Being of a certain standard as to strength; - said of alcoholic liquors.
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Proof
Any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something;
If you have any proof for what you say, now is the time to produce it
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Proof
A formal series of statements showing that if one thing is true something else necessarily follows from it
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Proof
A measure of alcoholic strength expressed as an integer twice the percentage of alcohol present (by volume)
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Proof
Make or take a proof of, such as a photographic negative, an etching, or typeset
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Proof
Activate by mixing with water and sometimes sugar or milk;
Proof yeast
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Proof
Make resistant to water, sound, errors, etc.;
Proof the materials against shrinking in the dryer
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Proof
(used in combination or as a suffix) able to withstand;
Temptation-proof
Childproof locks
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Proof
A demonstration that establishes the validity of a claim.
His alibi was the proof of his innocence.
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Proof
A trial print or impression made to check a printed matter.
The printer made a proof of the poster to check for errors.
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Proof
A measure of alcoholic strength.
The whiskey was 80 proof, indicating 40% alcohol content.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does it mean to prove a point?
To demonstrate the validity of an argument or statement.
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What does prove mean?
To establish the truth of something through evidence.
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Can prove be used in scientific research?
Yes, it's often used to describe establishing scientific theories or hypotheses.
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Is a proof always conclusive?
Ideally, but some proofs may be contested or require more evidence.
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What is mathematical proof?
A logical argument establishing the truth of a mathematical statement.
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What is the proof of alcohol?
A measure of the strength of an alcoholic beverage.
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What constitutes legal proof?
Evidence that meets the legal criteria to establish a fact in court.
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What does it mean to prove one's innocence?
To provide evidence that shows one is not guilty of a crime.
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What is a proof in printing?
A trial print made to check the accuracy of a layout.
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Can a person prove love?
While love is subjective, one can demonstrate it through actions and words.
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What role does proof play in a trial?
It's crucial evidence used to establish facts and support arguments.
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How can one prove their skills?
By demonstrating competence and ability in practical situations.
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Can you prove a theory wrong?
Yes, by presenting evidence that contradicts it.
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Can a scientific theory be proven?
Scientific theories can be strongly supported but are always open to revision with new evidence.
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Can someone prove intent in a legal case?
Yes, through evidence that shows a person's state of mind or plan.
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Is proof needed in all legal cases?
Yes, proof is fundamental to support claims in legal proceedings.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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