proven

UK: /ˈprəʊv^ən/, /ˈpruːv^ən/ US: /ˈpruvən/

From the verb prove: (⇒ conjugate)

proven is: ⓘ

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prov•en /ˈpruvən/  adj. [before a noun]

1. shown to be so:
   a proven liar.

See -prov-.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

proven / ˈpruːv^ən ˈprəʊv^ən/ verb

1. a past participle of prove
2. See not proven

adjective

1. tried; tested: a proven method

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prove /pruv/   v., proved, proved or prov•en/ˈpruvən/  prov•ing. 

1. to establish the truth, genuineness, or validity of, as by evidence or argument: [~ + object]
   He was able to prove his innocence by producing a witness.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   She proved to me that she was not the one spreading gossip.
2. to cause to be shown as specified:
   [~ + object] Events have proved me right.
3. to show (oneself) to be worthy or capable:
   [~ + oneself] This job will give you a chance to prove yourself.
4. to demonstrate as having a particular quality:
   [~ + adjective] The medicine proved effective.

prov•a•bil•i•ty /ˌpruvəˈbɪlɪti/  n. [uncountable]
prov•a•ble, adj. See -prov-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prove  (pro̅o̅v), v., proved, proved or prov•en, prov•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument:
   to prove one's claim.
2. Law to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will);
   probate.
3. to give demonstration of by action.
4. to subject to a test, experiment, comparison, analysis, or the like, to determine quality, amount, acceptability, characteristics, etc.:
   to prove ore.
5. to show (oneself ) to have the character or ability expected of one, esp. through one's actions.
6. Mathematics to verify the correctness or validity of by mathematical demonstration or arithmetical proof.
7. Printing Also, proof. to take a trial impression of (type, a cut, etc.).
8. to cause (dough) to rise to the necessary lightness.
9. [Archaic.] to experience.

v.i. 

10. to turn out:
    The experiment proved to be successful.
11. to be found by trial or experience to be:
    His story proved false.
12. Food (of dough) to rise to a specified lightness:
    Leave covered until it has proved.

• Latin probāre to try, test, prove, approve, derivative of probus good. See probity
• Old French prover
• Middle English proven 1125–75

prov′a•ble, adj. 
prov′a•bil′i•ty, prov′a•ble•ness, n. 
prov′a•bly, adv. 
prov′en•ly, adv. 
prov′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. demonstrate, confirm, substantiate, verify.

Antonyms

• 1. disprove.

Usage

Either proved or proven is standard as the past participle of prove:
Events have proved (or proven) him wrong.
As a modifier, proven is by far the more common:
a proven fact.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prove / pruːv/ verb (proves, proving, proved, proved, proven)(mainly tr)

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to establish or demonstrate the truth or validity of; verify, esp by using an established sequence of procedures or statements
2. to establish the quality of, esp by experiment or scientific analysis
3. to establish the validity and genuineness of (a will)
4. to show (oneself) able or courageous
5. (copula) to be found or shown (to be): this has proved useless, it proved to be invaluable
6. (intransitive) (of dough) to rise in a warm place before baking

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old French prover, from Latin probāre to test, from probus honest

ˈprovable adjective

ˌprovaˈbility noun

ˈprovably adverb