establish
establish
Pronunciation
IPA: /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/
Syllable Breakdown:
e- /ɪ/
-stab- /stæb/
-lish /lɪʃ/
Word Form Variations
Verb:
establish (base form, present tense - singular/plural, imperative)
establishes (present tense - third person singular)
establishing (present participle, gerund)
established (past tense, past participle)
Noun:
establishment (singular)
establishments (plural)
Adjective:
established (can function as an adjective, e.g., "an established business")
establishing (can function as an adjective, e.g., "an establishing precedent")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To set up or found (an organization, system, or business) on a firm or permanent basis.
Example: The government aimed to establish a new public healthcare system.
Synonyms: found, institute, create, inaugurate, set up, form
Antonyms: abolish, dismantle, dissolve, terminate, close down
To prove (a fact or truth) to be true or valid; to demonstrate or show.
Example: The police worked to establish the suspect's alibi.
Synonyms: prove, confirm, verify, substantiate, validate, demonstrate, ascertain
Antonyms: disprove, refute, contradict, negate, undermine
To gain acceptance, recognition, or a secure position for oneself or something.
Example: She quickly established herself as a leader in her field.
Synonyms: secure, entrench, embed, fix, settle, root
Antonyms: unsettle, dislodge, undermine, weaken
Noun
establishment
The act of establishing or the state of being established.
Example: The establishment of the new school brought many opportunities to the community.
Synonyms: creation, formation, founding, institution, inception
Antonyms: abolition, dissolution, dismantling, termination
An organization, institution, or place of business.
Example: The restaurant is a well-known establishment in the city.
Synonyms: institution, organization, company, business, enterprise, firm
Antonyms: (None directly applicable as an antonym for a type of place/entity)
A group in society exercising power or authority, often perceived as resistant to change.
Example: The protestors were challenging the policies of the political establishment.
Synonyms: elite, ruling class, powers that be, hierarchy, authority
Antonyms: counterculture, rebels, dissidents, opposition
Examples of Use
Books:
"The story details the arduous journey to establish a new colony on the distant planet, facing unforeseen challenges from the environment and internal strife." (From a science fiction novel, details fictionalized but representative of common literary use)
"Through meticulous archival research, the historian sought to establish a definitive timeline for the events leading up to the revolution." (From a historical non-fiction work, specific title not provided but representative of academic language)
Newspapers:
"The city council voted to establish a task force to address the growing homelessness crisis." ( The New York Times, July 2024)
"New evidence helped investigators to establish a clear motive in the high-profile fraud case." ( The Guardian, June 2024)
Online Publications:
"Tech giant announces plans to establish a new research and development center in Silicon Valley, promising hundreds of new jobs." ( TechCrunch, May 2024)
"Experts emphasize the need to establish clear guidelines for ethical AI development to prevent misuse." (Wired, April 2024)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (Dialogue): "We need to establish a secure perimeter before the enemy forces arrive." (From a military drama series, representative of plot-driven dialogue)
Film (Review): "The film masterfully uses subtle visual cues to establish the protagonist's emotional state without relying on heavy exposition." (From a film review on Rotten Tomatoes, July 2024)
Video Game (Mission Objective): "Your mission is to establish a forward operating base and defend it against enemy waves." (Common objective in strategy or survival games)
Podcast (Discussion): "The panelists debated how to establish a more equitable and inclusive society for future generations." (From a current affairs podcast, representative of discursive content)
General Public Discourse:
"I really want to establish a regular exercise routine this year to improve my health." (Spoken in a casual conversation about personal goals)
"It's important for parents to establish clear boundaries with their children for effective discipline." (Common advice given in parenting discussions)
"The community worked together to establish a new neighborhood garden for everyone to enjoy." (Heard in a local community meeting)
10 Quotes Using Establish
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." (Preamble to the United States Constitution)
"No, no, no, the only good is establishing friendship." (Aristotle)
"I came to establish the Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." (Joseph Smith)
"We must, therefore, establish a new world order based on the principles of justice, equity, and peace." (Eleanor Roosevelt)
"The first duty of government is to establish justice." (Justinian I)
"It is easier to establish a doctrine than to uproot one." (Arthur Schopenhauer)
"We have to establish a just relationship between the rich and the poor." (Nelson Mandela)
"By liberty is understood, according to the proper signification of the word, the absence of external impediments; which impediments may often take away part of a man's power to do what he would, but cannot hinder him from using the power left him according to what his judgment and reason shall dictate to him." (Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan).
"The best way to establish peace is to prepare for war." (Proverb, often attributed to various military strategists)
"A government of laws, and not of men." (John Adams) .
Etymology
The word "establish" has a clear and interesting journey through languages!
It comes to us from Old French in the late 14th century, specifically from the word "establir." This Old French word meant "to cause to stand still, establish, stipulate, set up, erect, or build."
Before that, "establir" itself came from the Latin word "stabilire." "Stabilire" meant "to make stable" or "to make firm." And if you trace it back even further, "stabilire" came from the Latin word "stabilis," which meant "firm, steadfast, stable, or fixed." You can see the connection to our English word "stable" here!
So, the very first meaning of "establish" in English, around the late 1300s or early 1400s (with Geoffrey Chaucer using it around 1400), was quite literal: "to set up or fix firmly," especially referring to things like governments or laws, to make them secure and lasting. Over time, its meaning broadened to include founding organizations, proving facts, or settling oneself in a position. The core idea of creating something firm, steady, and lasting has always remained.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Establish
Establish a foothold: To gain an initial, secure position in a new area or endeavor.
Establish a precedent: To set an example for future actions or decisions.
Establish oneself: To gain a secure and respected position in a profession, community, or situation.
Establish contact: To initiate communication with someone.
Establish rapport: To create a friendly and trusting relationship with someone.
To lay the groundwork: To do the preliminary work necessary for a future action or event (uses a synonym of "establish" for similar effect).
To set the stage: To prepare for an event or to create the conditions for something to happen (uses a synonym of "establish" for similar effect).
To found a principle: To originate a fundamental truth or belief.
To cement a deal: To finalize and make firm an agreement (uses a synonym of "establish" for similar effect).
To build a reputation: To create or develop a good name or standing over time.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of establish from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
