proven
PROO-vn
Proven (adj) means Shown by evidence to be true, effective, or reliable. Example: “The drug has a proven track record of safety.”
adj
1
Shown by evidence to be true, effective, or reliable.
"The drug has a proven track record of safety."
"They used a proven method to train the recruits."
"This is a proven recipe, and my family has used it for years."
How to use proven
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAlready demonstrated to be true or reliable, rather than just claimed or theoretical.
Common pairings
proven track record
proven method
not proven
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more proven
- Superlative
- most proven
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The drug has a _____ track record of safety.
Etymology
Developed as the past participle of "preve," a Middle English form of prove, and originally used in Scottish legal contexts — as in the verdict "not proven."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for proven
See all rhymes for proven →Frequently asked questions
What does “proven” mean?
The word “proven” means shown by evidence to be true, effective, or reliable. In plain terms, already demonstrated to be true or reliable, rather than just claimed or theoretical.
How do you pronounce “proven”?
“Proven” is pronounced PROO-vn (/ˈpɹu.vn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “proven” in a sentence?
Here is “proven” used in a sentence: “The drug has a proven track record of safety.”
What is the opposite of “proven”?
The opposite of “proven” — its antonyms — are unproven and disproven.
What part of speech is “proven”?
“Proven” is an adjective.
Where does the word “proven” come from?
The word “proven” comes from Middle English. Developed as the past participle of "preve," a Middle English form of prove, and originally used in Scottish legal contexts — as in the verdict "not proven.".
Is “proven” a common word?
“Proven” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "proven" and "proved"?
Both can serve as the past participle of "prove," so "has proven" and "has proved" are both correct. "Proven" is more common as an adjective before a noun, as in "a proven method," while "proved" is often preferred as the plain past tense, as in "she proved her point."
What is the difference between "proven" and "tested"?
"Tested" means something has been tried or examined, but not necessarily with a successful result. "Proven" goes further, meaning it has been shown by evidence to be true, effective, or reliable. Something can be tested and still fail, whereas proven implies it worked.
What is the difference between "proven" and "unproven"?
"Proven" means shown by evidence to be true, effective, or reliable. "Unproven," a related form, means not yet demonstrated to be true or reliable. The prefix "un-" reverses the meaning.
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