Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - prove

~ v past tense provedpast participle proved also proven especially AmE 1 »SHOW THE TRUTH« to show that something is true by providing facts, information etc  (Evidence has been found that proves his innocence. | prove (that))  (It is impossible to prove that God exists. | prove sb wrong/innocent etc)  (It would give me great pleasure to prove Sam wrong.)  (- see also disprove) 2 »BE SOMETHING« linking verb, if someone or something proves difficult, helpful etc, you find out that this is what they are like  (Working from home proved a real advantage after my son was born. | prove to be sth)  (Your computing experience should prove to be useful.) 3 prove yourself to show how good you are at something by trying hard to do it well  (When I started the job, I felt I had to prove myself.) 4 »BREAD« if dough (=unbaked bread mixture) proves, it rises and becomes light because of the yeast in it 5 »LAW« law to show that a will has been made properly - provable adj - provably adv