(establishes, establishing, established)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If someone establishes something such as an organization, a type of activity, or a set of rules, they create it or introduce it in such a way that it is likely to last for a long time.
The UN has established detailed criteria for who should be allowed to vote...
The School was established in 1989 by an Italian professor.
= set up, found
VERB: V n, V n
2.
If you establish contact with someone, you start to have contact with them. You can also say that two people, groups, or countries establish contact. (FORMAL)
We had already established contact with the museum...
Singapore and South Africa have established diplomatic relations.
V-RECIP: V n with n, pl-n V
3.
If you establish that something is true, you discover facts that show that it is definitely true. (FORMAL)
Medical tests established that she was not their own child...
It will be essential to establish how the money is being spent...
An autopsy was being done to establish the cause of death...
It was established that the missile had landed on a test range in Australia.
= ascertain
VERB: V that, V wh, V n, it be V-ed that
• established
That link is an established medical fact.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
4.
If you establish yourself, your reputation, or a good quality that you have, you succeed in doing something, and achieve respect or a secure position as a result of this.
This is going to be the show where up-and-coming comedians will establish themselves...
He has established himself as a pivotal figure in US politics...
We shall fight to establish our innocence.
VERB: V pron-refl, V pron-refl as n, V n, also V n as n