confirm

confirm — verb

1. to let someone know that a planned event, meeting, or reservation is definite an

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to let someone know that a planned event, meeting, or reservation is definite and will go ahead

Example

Leila called the hotel to confirm her reservation for Friday night.

confirm + noun phrase (reservation)

Please confirm your appointment by email at least twenty-four hours before your visit.

Common collocations
  • confirm a booking
  • confirm a reservation
  • confirm an appointment
  • confirm a flight
Synonyms
  • book

    'book' is the act of making the arrangement; 'confirm' is the later step of making sure it is definite

  • reaffirm

    more formal and implies repeating an earlier confirmation

Antonyms
  • cancel

    to call off an arrangement rather than make it definite

Grammar Patterns

confirm + noun phrase

confirm + that-clause

Common Mistakes

I need to verify my hotel booking' (when the booking is already made and you just want to make sure it is still there).
I need to confirm my hotel booking.
'confirm' means you or the other side state it is definite; 'verify' means you check whether something is correct.

2. to provide evidence or information that removes any doubt about a fact, belief,

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to provide evidence or information that removes any doubt about a fact, belief, or claim

Example

The test results confirmed that the water from the well was safe to drink.

confirm + that-clause

Police confirmed the witness's account after reviewing the security footage.

Common collocations
  • confirm a theory
  • confirm findings
  • confirm suspicions
  • confirm a report
  • confirm evidence
Synonyms
  • verify

    'verify' focuses on checking accuracy through testing; 'confirm' is broader and can mean supporting something that was suspected

  • corroborate

    more formal; implies supporting someone else's statement with additional evidence

  • validate

    implies proving something is logically or legally sound, not just factually true

Antonyms
  • disprove

    to show that something is false

  • contradict

    to say the opposite of what has been claimed

Grammar Patterns

confirm + noun phrase

confirm + that-clause

be confirmed + prepositional phrase

Usage Note

Often used in journalism and scientific writing. The subject is usually an investigation, test, report, or authority figure.

Common Mistakes

The scientist confirmed the theory as correct' (unnatural with 'as').
The scientist confirmed that the theory was correct.
'confirm' takes a direct object or a that-clause, not 'confirm as'.

3. to admit a person into full membership of a Christian church through a formal ce

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to admit a person into full membership of a Christian church through a formal ceremony of confirmation

Example

The bishop visited the parish to confirm twelve young members of the church.

Yara was confirmed at the cathedral last spring alongside fifteen other teenagers.

passive: be confirmed

Common collocations
  • be confirmed in the church
  • be confirmed by a bishop
  • prepare to be confirmed

Grammar Patterns

confirm + person

be confirmed + prepositional phrase

Usage Note

This sense is specific to the Christian sacrament of confirmation, common in Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant traditions. Frequently used in the passive voice.

4. to make a feeling, opinion, or attitude even stronger or more firmly held than b

4.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make a feeling, opinion, or attitude even stronger or more firmly held than before

Example

Winning the award confirmed Theo's belief that hard work pays off.

The volunteer's experience at the hospital confirmed her wish to become a nurse.

Common collocations
  • confirm a belief
  • confirm fears
  • confirm suspicions
  • confirm a decision
  • confirm an opinion
Synonyms
  • reinforce

    very close in meaning; 'reinforce' suggests adding strength to an existing structure

  • strengthen

    more general; can apply to physical or abstract things

  • solidify

    suggests making something more fixed and less likely to change

Antonyms
  • weaken

    to make a feeling or belief less strong

  • shake

    to cause doubt in someone's belief or confidence

Grammar Patterns

confirm + noun phrase (belief/opinion/feeling)

Usage Note

The object is usually an abstract noun such as 'belief', 'fear', 'decision', 'opinion', or 'suspicion'. Unlike sense 2, this sense does not necessarily involve proving something factually — it is about emotional or psychological reinforcement.

Common Mistakes

His kind words confirmed me' (direct personal object).
His kind words confirmed my faith in people.
This sense takes an abstract noun, not a person, as object.

5. to formally approve a decision, position, agreement, or appointment, making it b

5.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to formally approve a decision, position, agreement, or appointment, making it binding or official

Example

The board confirmed Priya's appointment as the new director of finance.

confirm + noun phrase (appointment)

The Senate confirmed the judge after a series of hearings.

Common collocations
  • confirm a decision
  • confirm a contract
  • confirm an appointment
  • confirm a nomination
  • be confirmed as manager
Synonyms
  • ratify

    more formal and legal; implies voting to approve a document or treaty

  • endorse

    implies giving public support or approval, not necessarily making something legally binding

  • authorize

    implies giving permission for something to happen, rather than approving what is already decided

Antonyms
  • reject

    to refuse to approve or accept

  • veto

    to use official power to stop a decision or law

Grammar Patterns

confirm + noun phrase (position/agreement)

be confirmed as + noun phrase

Word family

  • confirmation
    nounB2
  • confirmed
    adjectiveB2
  • confirming
    adjectiveC1
  • unconfirmed
    adjectiveC1
  • confirmable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words relate to establishing truth, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Confirm' is the broadest: it can mean providing either evidence or assurance that something is true (e.g., 'The study confirmed the link between diet and heart health'). 'Verify' focuses on checking facts against a standard or through testing — it implies a methodical process of comparison ('The mechanic verified that the brakes were working properly'). 'Corroborate' is more formal and is used mainly when a second source supports a first one, often in legal or journalistic contexts ('Two witnesses corroborated her account of the accident'). 'Validate' involves proving that something meets a required standard or is logically sound, not just factually correct ('The lab validated the new testing method'). For everyday use when you are removing doubt about a fact, 'confirm' is the most natural choice. For example: 'The weather report confirmed our fears of a storm' versus 'We verified the forecast by checking three different apps.'

confirm ↗verify ↗corroborate ↗validate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • confirm something with someone

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'confirm' comes from the Latin 'confirmare', meaning 'to make firm, strengthen, establish'. It was formed from 'com-' (an intensive prefix) and 'firmus' (firm, strong). Latin 'confirmare' moved into Old French as 'confirmer' and then into Middle English around the 13th century. The earliest meanings in English carried both the idea of strengthening (a person in a belief) and of making something official (a treaty or position). The religious sense (the Christian sacrament of confirmation) emerged in the 14th century and reflects the idea of strengthening a person's faith.