Definition of the word establish

: to institute (something, such as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement

a

: to bring into existence : found

: to make (a church) a national or state institution

: to put beyond doubt : prove

The film established her as a star.

She established a reputation as a hard worker.

The word is now established as part of the English language.

The company has established itself as a leader in the industry.

As a young doctor he worked hard to establish himself in the community.

They want to establish their children in the family business.

She established a system of tracking expenses more accurately.

The two countries established a mutual trade agreement.

establishing a link between diet and cancer

Investigators are trying to establish if anyone knew about these problems before the accident.

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Recent Examples on the Web

In short order, Melchor has established a few clear themes in her work: The way misogyny, violence and the drug trade are braided; how fear forces bystanders to watch their words; and how the resulting euphemisms and silences create a kind of folklore around a place.


—Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2023




Sabah Baleen Blue Sabah $195 at sabah.am While Sabah Shoes is still relatively new (established in 2013), these handmade Turkish are certainly not.


—Christian Gollayan, menshealth.com, 4 Apr. 2023




Today, many of the institute’s activities have been re-established in Portugal, such as the Zohra Orchestra, Afghanistan’s first all-female orchestra.


—Jem Aswad, Variety, 4 Apr. 2023




The tribunal was established in 2015 by the Kosovo Parliament, under heavy pressure from the United States and the European Union.


—Marlise Simons, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2023




Fieldsheer was established in 1978 and introduced heated motorcycle apparel.


—Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2023




Many of these projects, and countless more, fall under the aegis of the Reliance Foundation, which Ambani established in 2010.


—Mark Rozzo, Town & Country, 2 Apr. 2023




Some Background While a high percentage of international crude oil trades had long been conducted in U.S. currency, the petrodollar was more formally established as the global currency of mark for such trades in 1973, in the wake of the first Arab oil embargo.


—David Blackmon, Forbes, 2 Apr. 2023




Her cofounder, Anna Kuznetsova, became something of a trailblazer for Lvova-Belova, first establishing a name for herself in the social services field and then branching into politics.


—Valerie Hopkins, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Apr. 2023


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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘establish.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Etymology

Middle English establissen, from Anglo-French establiss-, stem of establir, from Latin stabilire, from stabilis stable

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of establish was
in the 14th century

Though the company, by treaty, have a right to a participation only, in the trade of these regions, and are, in fact, but tenants on sufferance; yet have they quietly availed themselves of the original oversight, and subsequent supineness of the American government, to establish a monopoly of the trade of the river and its dependencies; and are adroitly proceeding to fortify themselves in their usurpation, by securing all the strong points of the country.

Leaving twelve men here, with a stock of goods, to trade with the neighboring tribes, he prosecuted his journey to the Columbia; where he established another post, called Fort Williams, on Wappatoo Island, at the mouth of the Wallamut.

To establish the pretended affinity, they have not scrupled to draw resources even from the regions of fiction.

The second clause of the second section of the second article empowers the President of the United States «to nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other OFFICERS of United States whose appointments are NOT in the Constitution OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, and WHICH SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY LAW.» Immediately after this clause follows another in these words: «The President shall have power to fill up all VACANCIES that may happen DURING THE RECESS OF THE SENATE, by granting commissions which shall EXPIRE AT THE END OF THEIR NEXT SESSION.» It is from this last provision that the pretended power of the President to fill vacancies in the Senate has been deduced.

[1264a] would establish a government upon a community of goods, ought to know that he should consult the experience of many years, which would plainly enough inform him whether such a scheme is useful; for almost all things have already been found out, but some have been neglected, and others which have been known have not been put in practice.

Nor has Socrates told us (nor is it easy to say) what plan of government should be pursued with respect to the individuals in the state where there is a community of goods established; for though the majority of his citizens will in general consist of a multitude of persons of different occupations, of those he has determined nothing; whether the property of the husbandman ought to be in common, or whether each person should have his share to himself; and also, whether their wives and children ought to be in common: for if all things are to be alike common to all, where will be the difference between them and the military, or what would they get by submitting to their government?

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

A municipality was established and the following announcement issued:

The city police is established on its former footing, and better order already prevails in consequence of its activity.

If we resort for a criterion to the different principles on which different forms of government are established, we may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure, for a limited period, or during good behavior.

«You worship at the shrine of the established,» he told her once, in a discussion they had over Praps and Vanderwater.

Other forms: established; establishing; establishes

To establish something means to begin it or bring it about. If you want everyone in your family to bring you chocolate every evening, you can establish a “Chocolates for Me” policy requiring it.

Establish is related to stable through its Latin roots and has many meanings, but all have the feel of building on a stable foundation. Besides the meaning of setting a policy, establish can also mean to prove one’s value. You should establish yourself in a community before you try to bring change to it. Similarly, if you like to debate controversial issues, you’d best begin with facts that have been established and are not open to question. If you have a lot of money and want to build up your community, you can establish, or found, a school or library there.

Definitions of establish

2. verb

   set up or lay the groundwork for

   “establish a new department”

   synonyms:

   constitute, found, institute, plant

3. verb

   institute, enact, or establish

5. “The trompe l’oeil-illusion
   establishes depth”

   synonyms:

   give

   generate, give, render, return, yield

   give or supply

6. verb

   build or establish something abstract

7. verb

   use as a basis for; found on

8. verb

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

   synonyms:

   demonstrate, prove, shew, show

   see moresee less

   Antonyms:

   confute, disprove

   prove to be false

   types:

   show 6 types…

   hide 6 types…

   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

   invalidate, nullify

   show to be invalid

   confute, disprove

   prove to be false

   type of:

   affirm, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, support, sustain

   establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts

1    to make secure or permanent in a certain place, condition, job, etc.  
to establish one’s usefulness, to establish a house     

2    to create or set up (an organization, etc.) on or as if on a permanent basis  
to establish a company     

3    to prove correct or free from doubt; validate  
to establish a fact     

4    to cause (a principle, theory, etc.) to be widely or permanently accepted  
to establish a precedent     

5    to give (a Church) the status of a national institution  

6    (of a person) to become recognized and accepted  
he established himself as a reliable GP     

7    (in works of imagination) to cause (a character, place, etc.) to be credible and recognized  
the first scene established the period     

8      (Cards)   to make winners of (the remaining cards of a suit) by forcing out opponents’ top cards  

9    also intr   to cause (a plant) to grow or (of a plant) to grow in a new place  
the birch scrub has established over the past 25 years     
     (C14: from Old French establir, from Latin stabilire to make firm, from stabilis stable2)  
♦
  establisher      n