Testify Meaning
/ˈtɛstɪfaɪ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo make a declaration, or give evidence, under oath.
verbTo make a statement based on personal knowledge or faith.
Sentence Examples
And I testify that this is the Son of God.
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light.
The witness agreed to testify in court regarding the car accident.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The witness will ____ in court about what she saw last night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The witness was called to ____ in court and tell the judge exactly what she saw on the night of the accident today.
Word Origin & History
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English testifien, borrowed from Old French testifier, from Latin testificārī (“to bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”) + facere (“to make”). See -fy.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It was only after a decade away from Skipton that I was finally able to garner the courage to return and testify against my abuser."
— 2014 August 29, Ruzwana Bashir, “The untold story of how a culture of shame perpetuates abuse. I know, I was a victim”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC:
"One witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 35:30:
"We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 3:11:
"[T]he pleaſures of ſenſe have no reliſh vvhere thou [Jesus] irradiateſt and teſtifieſt vvith our conſcience, that vve are the children of God, and have done thy vvill ſincerely, […]"
— 1733, Tho[mas] Allen, “Jesus Christ’s Sixth Royal Embassy; or Word to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia”, in The Christian’s Sure Guide to Eternal Glory: Or, Living Oracles Most Comfortable, Holy and Instructive of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, in His Royal Embassy to the Seven Churches of Asia, […], London: […] Francis Jefferies […], →OCLC, page 253:
""Iberian-Sardinian" substrate features have been posited time and time again. These have usually been explained as testifying to a migration from the Iberian Peninsula to Sardinia in prehistoric times."
— 2025, Cid Swanenvleugel, The Pre-Roman Elements of the Sardinian Lexicon, page 15:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The witness will ____ in court about what she saw last night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The witness was called to ____ in court and tell the judge exactly what she saw on the night of the accident today.