to make secure or permanent in a certain place, condition, job, etc to create or set up (an organization, etc) on or as if on a permanent basis to prove correct or free from doubt; validate: to establish a fact to cause (a principle, theory, etc) to be widely or permanently accepted: to establish a precedent to give (a Church) the status of a national institution (of a person) to become recognized and accepted (in works of imagination) to cause (a character, place, etc) to be credible and recognized
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
es•tab•lish /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to bring into being on a firm or permanent basis;
set up;
found: to establish a university. - [~ + oneself] to install, put, or settle in a position, place, business, etc.: They established themselves as founders of the society.
- to figure out;
determine: The coroner was able to establish the time of death.[~ + that clause]The coroner was able to establish that death took place at about eight o'clock. - to cause to be accepted or recognized: to establish a custom.
- to enact, appoint, or ordain on a permanent basis:The new parliament set about establishing laws to improve the economy.
es•tab•lish
(i stab′lish),USA pronunciation v.t.
es•tab′lish•a•ble, adj.
es•tab′lish•er, n.
- to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis:to establish a university; to establish a medical practice.
- to install or settle in a position, place, business, etc.:to establish one's child in business.
- to show to be valid or true;
prove:to establish the facts of the matter. - to cause to be accepted or recognized:to establish a custom; She established herself as a leading surgeon.
- to bring about permanently:to establish order.
- to enact, appoint, or ordain for permanence, as a law;
fix unalterably. - Religionto make (a church) a national or state institution.
- Games[Cards.]to obtain control of (a suit) so that one can win all the subsequent tricks in it.
- Latin stabilīre, akin to stabilis stable2
- Middle French establiss-, extended stem of establir
- Middle English establissen 1325–75
es•tab′lish•er, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged form, organize. See fix.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged verify, substantiate.
- 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged decree.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged abolish.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged disprove.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'in an established manner' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):