confirm
/kənˈfɜːm/- 1.
To say or show that something is true, correct, or definitely happening. You confirm a fact when you give proof or clear agreement.
- The manager confirmed that the meeting would start at 9 a.m.
- Tests confirmed the presence of the virus in the sample.
- She called the airline to confirm her flight details.
- 2.
To make an arrangement, booking, or decision officially fixed so that everyone knows it is certain.
- Please confirm your hotel reservation 48 hours before arrival.
- He confirmed his place at the university by paying the deposit.
- Can you confirm your attendance by Friday?
Adinary Nuance
Confirm sits in a cluster of similar words — verify, affirm, validate, and corroborate — but each has a distinct job. You use confirm in everyday situations: confirm a booking, confirm a suspicion, confirm a fact someone already suspects is true. Verify is more technical and precise — you verify data, verify an identity, verify a source — it implies a careful, methodical check. Affirm carries emotional weight: you affirm a belief or affirm someone's confidence; it rarely fits logistical contexts like appointments. Corroborate is almost exclusively formal or legal — evidence corroborates a claim in a courtroom or academic paper, not in a WhatsApp message. When in doubt, confirm is almost always the safest and most natural choice in spoken English and professional emails.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- xác nhận
- Spanish
- confirmar
- Chinese
- 确认
- Japanese
- 確認する
- Korean
- 확인하다
Etymology
From Latin "confirmare," meaning "to strengthen completely" (con- + firmare), through Old French "confirmer." It entered Middle English around the 14th century with both its factual and official senses already in use.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'confirm' and 'verify'?
- 'Confirm' is used in everyday situations — confirming plans, bookings, or facts. 'Verify' is more technical and suggests a careful check for accuracy, like verifying a password or verifying data. In casual or professional emails, 'confirm' is almost always the right choice.
- Can I use 'confirm' in formal academic writing?
- Yes, 'confirm' is perfectly acceptable in academic writing — for example, 'The results confirmed the hypothesis.' However, 'corroborate' or 'substantiate' may sound more formal when discussing research evidence.
- Is 'please confirm' polite enough to use in a professional email?
- Yes, 'please confirm' is a standard, polite phrase in business English. You can also soften it slightly by saying 'Could you please confirm…' if you want to sound more courteous.
- What is the noun form of 'confirm'?
- The noun form is 'confirmation.' For example: 'I received a confirmation email from the hotel.' The adjective form is 'confirmed,' as in 'a confirmed booking' or 'a confirmed case.'