substantiate

UK: /səbˈstænʃieɪt/ US: /səbˈstænʃiˌeɪt/ ,(səb stan′shē āt′)

Inflections of 'substantiate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

substantiates

v 3rd person singular

substantiating

v pres p

substantiated

v past

substantiated

v past p

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

sub•stan•ti•ate /səbˈstænʃiˌeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to show or establish (a claim, opinion, etc.) by proof or strong evidence:
   to substantiate a charge.

sub•stan•ti•a•tion /səbˌstænʃiˈeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -stan-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sub•stan•ti•ate  (səb stan′shē āt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to establish by proof or competent evidence:
   to substantiate a charge.
2. to give substantial existence to:
   to substantiate an idea through action.
3. to affirm as having substance;
   give body to;
   strengthen:
   to substantiate a friendship.

• Neo-Latin substantiātus (past participle of substantiāre), equivalent. to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ātus -ate¹
• 1650–60

sub•stan′ti•a′ta•ble, adj. 
sub•stan′ti•a′tion, n. 
sub•stan′ti•a′tive, adj. 
sub•stan′ti•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. prove, confirm, verify, validate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

substantiate / səbˈstænʃɪˌeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to establish as valid or genuine
2. to give form or real existence to

Etymology: 17th Century: from New Latin substantiāre, from Latin substantia substance

subˌstantiˈation noun