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establish definition

es·tab·lish (ə stab′lis̸h, i-)

transitive verb

  1. to make stable; make firm; settle to establish a habit
  2. to order, ordain, or enact (a law, statute, etc.) permanently
  3. to set up (a government, nation, business, etc.); found; institute
  4. to cause to be or happen; bring about efforts to establish a friendship
  5. to settle in an office or position, or set up as in business or a profession
  6. to make a state institution of (a church)
  7. to set up (a precedent, theory, reputation, etc.) permanently; cause to be accepted or recognized
  8. to prove; demonstrate to establish one's cause at law
  9. Card Games to win control of (a suit) so that one is sure of taking all the remaining tricks in it

Etymology: ME establissen < extended stem of OFr establir < L stabilire < stabilis, stable

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

establish Synonyms

establish

v.

  1. To set up in a formal manner

    institute, found, authorize; see organize 2.

  2. To work or settle in a permanent place

    set up, install, build, erect, build up, entrench, set, plant, root, place, settle, lodge, settle in, lay the foundation, lay the foundation for, make provisions for, domiciliate, practice, live, ground, ensconce, set on its feet, land.

    Antonyms unsettle, uproot, break up.

  3. To determine

    ascertain, learn, find out; see discover.

  4. To prove

    verify, authenticate, confirm; see prove.

  5. To make secure

    fix, secure, stabilize; see fasten 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

establish Usage Examples

Preposition: at

  • outset: The organizer of the meeting can establish at the outset how long, ideally, they would like each point to take.

Subject

  • statute: The new Agency should be established by statute as an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body.

Object

  • reputation: Free Spirit Fishing has established a reputation for exceptional quality and value for money.

Used with why or when

  • which: Comfort of furniture Research to establish which factors contribute to enhancing the comfort of furniture.

Infinitive complement

  • promote: Notes to editors: WRAP ( the Waste & Resources Action Program ) is a major UK program established to promote resource efficiency.

Preposition: under

  • auspice: Most of the synagogues serving congregations in the outer suburbs have been established under the auspices of the United Synagogue.

Preposition: for

  • purpose: Must new review bodies be established purely for this purpose, or are such proposals referred to Trusts ' existing Clinical Ethics Committees?

Preposition: by

  • statute: The new Agency should be established by statute as an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body.
establish usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"establish." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/establish>

APA Style

establish. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/establish

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