Library / English Dictionary

ESTABLISH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Use as a basis for; found on

Example:

base a claim on some observation

Synonyms:

base; establish; found; ground

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "establish"):

build (found or ground)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment

Example:

The mathematician showed the validity of the conjecture

Synonyms:

demonstrate; establish; prove; shew; show

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "establish" is one way to...):

affirm; confirm; corroborate; substantiate; support; sustain (establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "establish"):

prove oneself (show one's ability or courage)

prove (prove formally; demonstrate by a mathematical, formal proof)

contradict; negate (prove negative; show to be false)

stultify (prove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone's incompetence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

establishment (the cognitive process of establishing a valid proof)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Institute, enact, or establish

Example:

make laws

Synonyms:

establish; lay down; make

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "establish" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "establish"):

mark; set (establish as the highest level or best performance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 4

Meaning:

Place

Example:

Her manager had set her up at the Ritz

Synonyms:

establish; instal; install; set up

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 5

Meaning:

Set up or lay the groundwork for

Example:

establish a new department

Synonyms:

constitute; establish; found; institute; plant

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "establish" is one way to...):

initiate; pioneer (take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "establish"):

fix (set or place definitely)

appoint; constitute; name; nominate (create and charge with a task or function)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

establishment (the act of forming or establishing something)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Bring about

Example:

The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth

Synonyms:

establish; give

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "establish" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Verb group:

generate; give; render; return; yield (give or supply)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "establish"):

introduce (bring in or establish in a new place or environment)

pacify (fight violence and try to establish peace in (a location))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Build or establish something abstract

Example:

build a reputation

Synonyms:

build; establish

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "establish" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 8

Meaning:

Set up or found

Example:

She set up a literacy program

Synonyms:

establish; found; launch; set up

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "establish" is one way to...):

open; open up (start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

abolish (do away with)

Derivation:

establishment (the act of forming or establishing something)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The specifics of Proxima B's orbit are not yet established.

(Simulations show planet orbiting Proxima Centauri could have liquid water, Wikinews)

Unless we succeed in establishing an alternative theory, this man is lost.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In this case, however, they have established a very serious case against the son of the murdered man.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And again the unprecedented was established.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It had such a prescriptive, stiff-necked, long-established, solemn, elderly air.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Then, having established ourselves upon this sound basis, it is our duty to see what inferences may be drawn and what are the special points upon which the whole mystery turns.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was extraordinarily receptive and responsive, while his imagination, pitched high, was ever at work establishing relations of likeness and difference.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

NASA's multiyear Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment (CARVE) is the first experiment to establish emission rates for a large region of the Arctic.

(Alaska Shows No Signs of Rising Arctic Methane, NASA)

A United States organization of distinguished scientists and engineers established for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon any subject of art or science as requested by any department of government.

(National Academy of Science, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Established by the Director, NCI, September 29, 1995.

(NCI Special Emphasis Panel, NCI Thesaurus)