establish
verb
es·tab·lish
i-ˈsta-blish 
established; establishing; establishes
1
: to institute (something, such as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement
2
obsolete
: settle sense 7
3
a
: to make firm or stable
b
: to introduce and cause to grow and multiply
establish grass on pasturelands
4
a
: to bring into existence : found
established a republic
b
: bring about, effect
established friendly relations
5
a
: to put on a firm basis : set up
establish his son in business
b
: to put into a favorable position
c
: to gain full recognition or acceptance of
the role established her as a star
6
: to make (a church) a national or state institution
7
: to put beyond doubt : prove
established my innocence
Examples of establish in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
The first 100 pages are all about establishing who this or that person is.
—
Brent Lang, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
The Brooklyn Mirage first opened in 2015 as a popup space, but Avant Gardner established it as a permanent venue in 2017 and began expanding the operation to include other concert spaces.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
This year’s effort would have established a pilot program of four OPCs without tapping state funding.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
The objective of the study was to define, establish and validate a reference standard for conventional or standard dyeing of denim warps and equip brands with a benchmark to compare against suppliers’ data.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for establish
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Brent Lang, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
The Brooklyn Mirage first opened in 2015 as a popup space, but Avant Gardner established it as a permanent venue in 2017 and began expanding the operation to include other concert spaces.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
This year’s effort would have established a pilot program of four OPCs without tapping state funding.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
The objective of the study was to define, establish and validate a reference standard for conventional or standard dyeing of denim warps and equip brands with a benchmark to compare against suppliers’ data.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for establish
Cite this Entry
“Establish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/establish. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
establish
verb
es·tab·lish
is-ˈtab-lish
1
: to make a permanent part of a nation's laws
establish a constitution
2
: to make firm or stable
establish a statue on its base
3
a
: to bring into existence : found
establish a republic
establish a school
b
: to cause to exist
establish good relations
establish radio contact
4
: to set on a firm basis
establish their children in business
5
: to gain full recognition or acceptance of
establish a claim
a film that established her as a star
established his innocence
6
: prove
7
: find out sense 1
establish the cause of the fire
establisher
noun
Legal Definition
establish
transitive verb
es·tab·lish
1
: to institute (as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement
we the people of the United States…do ordain and establish this Constitution—U.S. Constitution preamble
U.S. Constitution preamble2
: to make firm or stable
3
: to bring into existence : found
Congress shall have power…to establish post offices and post roads—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
specifically
: to found (a national bank) pursuant to a charter
4
: to make (a church) a national or state institution see also establishment, establishment clause
5
: to put beyond doubt : prove
6
: to place in a position of being accepted or followed
a rule established by case law
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