The following verbs are valuable for defining and identifying more precisely
the functions of a position. Using concise wording minimizes ambiguities
and misunderstandings.
|
Verb
|
Definition
|
|
Accept
|
To take or receive something; to regard as true or valid,
believe
|
|
Account
|
To give an explanation; to furnish or justify reasons,
causes
|
|
Accumulate
|
To collect, to gather
|
|
Achieve
|
To bring a successful conclusion
|
|
Acknowledge
|
To report the receipt of
|
|
Acquire
|
To come into possession of
|
|
Act
|
To perform a specified function
|
|
Activate
|
To mobilize; to set into motion
|
|
Adapt
Address
|
To modify or change to fit specific or new situations
To apply oneself or direct one's energies
|
|
Adjust
|
To bring to a more satisfactory state
|
|
Administer
Adapt
|
To manage or direct the execution of affairs. (To bring
into use or operation)
To make fit or suitable by changing or adjusting
|
|
Adopt
|
To take up and practice as one's own
|
|
Advise
|
To recommend a course of action, to offer an informed
opinion based on specialized knowledge
|
|
Advocate
|
To recommend or speak in favor of
|
|
Affirm
|
To assert positively; to confirm
|
|
Align
|
To arrange in a line; to array
|
|
Allocate
|
To assign or apportion for a specific purpose or to a
particular person
|
|
Allot
|
To assign as a share
|
|
Alter
|
To make different, as in size, style, course; to change;
to modify
|
|
Amend
|
To change or modify
|
|
Analyze
|
To separate into elements and critically examine
|
|
Answer
|
To speak or write in reply
|
|
Anticipate
|
To foresee and deal with in advance
|
|
Apply
|
To use for a particular purpose
|
|
Appoint
|
To name officially
|
|
Appraise
|
To give an expert judgment of quality, worth, or merit
|
|
Approve
Arbitrate
|
To exercise final authorization
To decide a dispute
|
|
Arrange
|
To prepare for an event; to put in proper order
|
|
Ascertain
|
To find out or discover through examination. To find out
or learn for a certainty.
|
|
Assemble
|
To collect or gather
|
|
Assess
|
To determine value of, to evaluate
|
|
Assign
|
To designate duties or tasks to be performed by others
|
|
Assist
|
To help others in the performance of work
|
|
Assume
|
To undertake; to take over duties and tasks
|
|
Assure
|
To make certain; to guarantee
|
|
Attach
|
To connect to bind or affix to
|
|
Attain
|
To come into possession of, to achieve
|
|
Attend
|
To be present
|
|
Audit
Author
|
To examine officially with intent to verify
To make or originate something
|
|
Authorize
|
To give official power, to warrantor justify
|
|
Award
Balance
|
To bestow or assign
To compare as to relative importance, value, etc.; to
counterpoise or counteract; make up for; offset
|
|
Batch
|
To assemble into a group for one operation
|
|
Budget
|
To plan expenditures
|
|
Build
|
To construct
|
|
Calculate
|
To make a mathematical computation
|
|
Call
|
To communicate by telephone; to summon
|
|
Cancel
Catalog
|
To mark out; invalidate. (Printing - to delete.)
To make a list or register of
|
|
Certify
|
To confirm as accurate or true
|
|
Chair
Chart
|
To preside as chairperson
To draw or plot data (as on a graph). To make a detailed
plan
|
|
Check
|
To verify; to compare with a source
|
|
Circulate
|
To pass from person to person or place to place
|
|
Clarify
|
To make easier to understand; to explain
|
|
Classify
|
To arrange or organize according to systematic groups,
classes or categories
|
|
Clear
Coach
|
To gain approval of others; to authorize; to free from
obstruction
To instruct and train
|
|
Close
|
To bring to a conclusion; to shut; to suspend or stop
operations
|
|
Code
|
To put into words, characters, numbers, or symbols used
to represent other words
|
|
Collaborate
|
To work jointly with; to cooperate with others
|
|
Collate
|
To organize or assemble in a predetermined sequence
|
|
Collect
|
To gather
|
|
Communicate
|
To impart a verbal or written message; to transmit information
|
|
Compare
|
To examine for the purpose of discovering resemblances
or differences
|
|
Compile
|
To put together information collected from other documents;
to assemble data in a new form
|
|
Complete
|
To finish; to fully carry out
|
|
Comply
|
To act in accordance with rules, requests
|
|
Compose
|
To make by putting parts together, to create; to write
(an original letter, report, instructions
|
|
Compute
Conceptualize
|
To determine or calculate mathematically
To form a concept or idea of
|
|
Concur
|
To agree with a position, statement, action, or opinion
|
|
Condense
|
To make more compact
|
|
Conduct
|
To manage or carry on; to direct the execution of (to
lead or guide)
|
|
Confer
|
To compare views; to consult
|
|
Confirm
Convince
|
To make valid; to verify
To overcome the doubts of; persuade by argument
or evidence; make feel sure
|
|
Consolidate
|
To bring together
|
|
Construct
|
To make or form by combining parts
|
|
Consult
|
To seek advise of others; to give professional advice
or services
|
|
Contact
|
To communicate with
|
|
Contract
Contribute
|
To enter upon or undertake, by contract. To
get, acquire, or incur
To supply or give something; to submit for publication
|
|
Control
|
To direct, regulate or guide; to monitor activities; to
ensure or verify conformance with end results
|
|
Convert
|
To change into a different form
|
|
Convey
|
To move from one place to another; to transport; to communicate
|
|
Convince
|
To persuade; to cause others to believe something, using
persuasiveness
|
|
Coordinate
|
To direct, or combine the related actions of others
|
|
Copy
|
To duplicate an original
|
|
Correct
|
To make or set right; to alter or adjust in accordance
with an accepted standard
|
|
Correlate
|
To establish a mutual relationship
|
|
Correspond
|
To communicate with
|
|
Counsel
|
To advise; to consult with
|
|
Create
Critique
Customize
|
To bring into existence; to produce through imaginative
skill
To analyze and evaluate
To make or build according to personal or individual specifications
|
|
Debug
|
To detect, locate and remove mistakes from a routine of
malfunctions from a computer
|
|
Decide
|
To arrive at a solution; to bring to a definitive end
|
|
Delegate
|
To entrust to another person duties or tasks
|
|
Delete
|
To strike out or remove
|
|
Deliver
|
To carry out; to convey; to send to an intended destination
|
|
Demonstrate
Demystify
|
To describe or explain by examples
To remove the mystery or mystic; make rational or comprehensible
|
|
Describe
|
To tell or give an account of
|
|
Design
|
To create
|
|
Determine
|
To settle or decide
|
|
Develop
|
To unfold a plan or idea; to bring out the capabilities
of
|
|
Devise
Diagnose
|
To create from existing ideas
To make a diagnosis of
|
|
Dictate
|
To read or speak information to be recorded or written
by another
|
|
Direct
|
To give guidance or orders; to administer, manage, or
supervise
|
|
Discipline
|
To penalize individuals or groups whose behavior is contrary
to established rules and regulations
|
|
Discuss
|
To exchange views for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion
|
|
Dispatch
|
To send off, or forward, to known destination or on specific
business
|
|
Display
|
To show or exhibit evidence and/or argument
|
|
Dispose
|
To discard; to put in a particular order
|
|
Disseminate
|
To spread or disperse information or ideas
|
|
Distribute
|
To deliver to proper destination
|
|
Divert
|
To turn aside from a path or course
|
|
Draft
|
To prepare papers or documents in preliminary form
|
|
Draw
|
To compose or write up, following a set procedure or form
(as in a contract). To pull or move something
|
|
Edit
Educate
|
To revise and prepare material (written, film, tape, sound
track) for publication or display
To train or develop the knowledge, mind, character
|
|
Elaborate
|
To work out or add in great detail
|
|
Elect
|
To choose or select
|
|
Eliminate
|
To get rid of; to set aside as unimportant
|
|
Employ
|
To make use of, to use or engage the services of; to provide
with a job that pays wages or a salary
|
|
Encourage
Enable
|
To inspire with courage or confidence, to stimulate by
assistance or approval
To make able; provide the means, opportunity, power, or
authority to do something
|
|
Endorse
|
To support or recommend
|
|
Engage
Engineer
|
To employ; to arrange to obtain the use or services of;
to become involved
To plan and direct skillfully
|
|
Enlist
|
To engage; to secure the support and aid of
|
|
Ensure
|
To make sure, certain, or safe; to guarantee
|
|
Establish
|
To bring into existence
|
|
Estimate
|
To assess or evaluate on the basis of judgment or calculations;
to calculate approximately
|
|
Evaluate
|
To determine or judge/appraise the value or worth of
|
|
Examine
|
To inspect closely
|
|
Exchange
|
To give or take one thing in return for another
|
|
Exclude
|
To shut out; to bar from participation, consideration,
or inclusion
|
|
Execute
|
To put into effect; to carry out methods, plans
|
|
Exercise
Expand
|
To put into action, use, or operation; to do or perform
as a means of practice
To make greater in size, bulk, scope, etc.
|
|
Expedite
Explain
|
To accelerate the process or progress of
To make clear, plain, or understandable
|
|
Extend
|
To total columns. (Bookkeeping term)
|
|
Extract
Fabricate
|
To draw forth; to pull or draw out
To make, build, construct, etc.
|
|
Facilitate
Familiarize
Fashion
|
To make easier; to assist the process of
To make commonly known, accustomed, or fully acquainted
To make in a certain way; give certain form to
|
|
Feed
|
To provide with the necessary materials for development,
operation, or growth
|
|
File
|
To arrange in a methodical manner; to rub smooth or cut
away with a tool
|
|
Finalize
|
To put in finished form
|
|
Find
|
To encounter, to come upon by searching or effort
|
|
Follow up
|
To pursue closely in order to check progress
|
|
Forecast
|
To predict; to estimate in advance
|
|
Formulate
|
To develop or devise
|
|
Foster
|
To promote the growth or development of
|
|
Function
|
To act or operate as; to serve
|
|
Furnish
|
To provide with what is needed, to supply
|
|
Gather
|
To collect; to accumulate and place in order
|
|
Generate
|
To bring into existence
|
|
Govern
|
To rule by right of authority
|
|
Guarantee
|
To promise or affirm
|
|
Guide
|
To show or lead the way to; to manage the affairs of;
to influence the conduct or options of
|
|
Help
|
To aid or assist
|
|
Hire
|
To engage the service of for pay
|
|
Identify
Illustrate
|
To establish or recognize as being a particular thing
To make clear or easily understood by examples, comparisons,
etc.
|
|
Implement
|
To put into effect according to a procedure; to execute
a plan or program
|
|
Import
|
To bring from a foreign or external source
|
|
Improve
|
To make something better
|
|
Increase
Indicate
Influence
|
To cause to become greater in size, amount, degree, etc.
To show, demonstrate with precision
To have an effect on the nature, behavior, development,
action or thought of
|
|
Inform
|
To make known, communicate knowledge to others
|
|
Initiate
|
To begin or originate
|
|
Innovate
|
To introduce something new or make changes
|
|
Insert
|
To put (something) into, between or among other materials
|
|
Inspect
|
To examine materials, equipment, reports, work, or to
determine quality, suitability for use
|
|
Install
|
To place in position for service or use
|
|
Institute
|
To establish
|
|
Instruct
|
Teach, demonstrate, or by other methods impart knowledge
to others
|
|
Integrate
|
To unify; to make whole by putting all parts or elements
together
|
|
Interpret
|
Explain to others the meaning or significance of something
|
|
Interview
Introduce
|
To obtain facts or opinions through inquiry or examination
of various sources
To lead or bring into a given place or position
|
|
Invent
|
To think up or imagine; to create
|
|
Inventory
|
To catalog or to count and list
|
|
Invest
|
To spend or use time, money or effort to achieve a future
benefit
|
|
Investigate
|
To examine in detail; to search or inquire to ascertain
facts
|
|
Issue
|
To send out or put forth
|
|
Itemize
|
To list; to write down in detail
|
|
Join
|
To put or bring together
|
|
Justify
|
To prove or show to be right or reasonable
|
|
Keep
|
To hold or retain; to maintain
|
|
Lead
Lecture
|
To guide or direct
To give an informative talk before an audience, class,
etc.
|
|
Lend
|
To give the temporary use of
|
|
Let
|
To allow or permit
|
|
List
|
To group a series of names or items
|
|
Load
|
A quantity of material or number of objects carried or
supported
|
|
Locate
|
To find, determine, or specify by means of searching,
examining or experimenting. (To seek and find)
|
|
Look up
|
To search for and find
|
|
Maintain
|
To keep in an existing state
|
|
Make
|
To bring into being by forming, shaping, or altering material
|
|
Manage
|
To have charge of or responsibility for
|
|
Map
|
To sketch or plan
|
|
Market
|
To expose for sale; to sell
|
|
Match
|
To equal or resemble another in some respect
|
|
Mediate
|
To settle differences as an intermediary between parties
|
|
Merge
|
To combine items from two or more similarly ordered sets
into one set that is arranged in the same order
|
|
Model
Moderate
|
To teach by personal example; to instruct by demonstration
To preside over; serve as a moderator
|
|
Modify
|
To make changes
|
|
Monitor
|
To watch, observe, or check for a specific purpose
|
|
Motivate
|
To arouse or stimulate to action
|
|
Move
|
To advance or progress
|
|
Name
|
To nominate; to speak about
|
|
Negate
|
To deny the existence or truth of; to cause to be ineffective
or invalid
|
|
Negotiate
|
To confer with others to reach an agreement
|
|
Neutralize
|
To make ineffective; to nullify
|
|
Notify
|
To make known
|
|
Nullify
|
To make of no value or consequence; to cancel out
|
|
Observe
|
To see, notice or watch something or someone
|
|
Obtain
|
To acquire or gain possession of
|
|
Occupy
|
To take possession of; to fill
|
|
Omit
|
To leave out; to disregard
|
|
Open
|
To be receptive as to ideas; to make available or accessible;
not taken or filled
|
|
Operate
|
To manage or use
|
|
Oppose
|
To resist; to withstand; to place opposite or against
|
|
Organize
|
To arrange; to systematize or methodize
|
|
Orient
|
To cause to become aware of, familiar with, or adjusted
to facts, principles, procedure or situations
|
|
Originate
Overhaul
|
To begin or initiate
To check thoroughly for needed repairs and make repairs,
adjustments . etc.
|
|
Oversee
|
To supervise a function or operation
|
|
Participate
|
To take part in
|
|
Perform
|
To fulfill or carry out some action
|
|
Permit
|
To consent to; to authorize; to make possible
|
|
Persuade
|
To convince or influence
|
|
Pinpoint
Pioneer
|
To locate or aim with great precision or accuracy; to
cause to stand out conspicuously
To prepare or open a way
|
|
Place
|
To put in a particular position, situation, or condition
|
|
Plan
|
A method of action or procedure
|
|
Post
|
To record information in ledgers or other forms from another
source
|
|
Practice
|
To per-form or work repeatedly in order to gain proficiency
|
|
Predict
|
To declare in advance; to foretell on the basis of observation,
experience, or scientific reason
|
|
Prepare
|
To make ready for a particular purpose
|
|
Prescribe
|
To establish as a rule or guide
|
|
Present
|
To exist or occur now; to introduce
|
|
Preserve
|
To keep or guard
|
|
Prevent
|
To stop something from occurring
|
|
Price
|
To fix, to establish or to find out the value of
|
|
Proceed
|
To carry on or continue an action
|
|
Process
|
A systematic series of actions directed to some end
|
|
Procure
|
To obtain possession of
|
|
Produce
|
To make, bear, or yield something
|
|
Program
|
A plan or schedule to be followed
|
|
Project
|
To plan or propose; a large or major undertaking
|
|
Promote
|
To advance to a higher level or position; to advertise
or aid in development
|
|
Propose
|
To offer for consideration
|
|
Provide
Publicize
|
To supply what is needed
To give publicity to; draw public attention to
|
|
Pull
|
To haul, tow; to remove, as in filing
|
|
Purchase
|
To buy, procure, or acquire
|
|
Qualify
|
To provide with proper or necessary skills, knowledge,
credentials
|
|
Quantify
|
To determine, indicate, or express the amount of
|
|
Question
|
To interrogate; to doubt; to inquire
|
|
Rate
|
To assess the value of, to appraise; to arrange in sequence
of rank
|
|
Read
|
To interpret; to scan; to register or indicate
|
|
Receive
|
To acquire, come into possession of
|
|
Recommend
|
To advise or counsel a course of action; to offer or suggest
for adoption, action or approval
|
|
Reconcile
|
To harmonize or settle; to bring into agreement or consistency
|
|
Reconstruct
|
To rebuild, to reorganize or reestablish
|
|
Record
|
To set down in writing; a piece of writing, a chart, that
provides information
|
|
Recruit
|
To seek out others to become new members or personnel
|
|
Rectifies
|
To correct by calculation or adjustment; to remedy; to
set right
|
|
Reduce
|
To narrow down; to diminish size or amount
|
|
Refer
|
To send or direct; to make reference to
|
|
Refine
|
To improve or perfect; to free from impurities
|
|
Register
Rehabilitate
|
To enter in a record
To restore to a normal or optimum state of health, constructive
activity, etc.
|
|
Reinforce
|
To strengthen
|
|
Reject
|
To refuse to have, use, or take for some purpose
|
|
Release
|
To set free; to permit the publication or dissemination
of
|
|
Remit
Remodel
|
To send money in payment of
To make over; rebuild
|
|
Remove
|
To take away or eliminate; to dismiss
|
|
Render
Repair
|
To furnish or provide
To put back in good condition after damage, decay, etc.;
to amend or set right
|
|
Represent
|
To act for or in behalf of
|
|
Report
|
To give an account of; to furnish information or data
|
|
Requisition
|
To ask in writing for something that is needed
|
|
Rescind
|
To make void; to repeal
|
|
Research
Resolve
|
Systematic inquiry into a subject in order to discover
or revise facts, theories
To find an answer or solution to a problem; to reach a
decision or intention
|
|
Respond
Restore
|
To return an answer
To give back (something taken away or lost); to bring
back to a former condition
|
|
Restrict
|
To confine or limit
|
|
Retrieve
|
To recover
|
|
Review
|
To look over again; to inspect
|
|
Revise
Revitalize
|
To rework in order to correct or improve; to make a new,
improved or up-to-date version
To bring vitality, vigor, etc. back after a decline
|
|
Routes
|
To forward; to schedule or dispatch
|
|
Salvage
|
To rescue or save (as from wreckage or ruin)
|
|
Satisfy
|
To fulfill
|
|
Scans
|
To examine; to search a series of punched cards, tapes
or a memory bank to locate specific data (computer usage)
|
|
Schedule
|
To plan a timetable; a list of duties, events
|
|
Screen
|
To examine in orderly fashion to determine suitability
or acceptability (as in appraising potential employees); to cull
|
|
Search
|
To examine; probe; to make a thorough examination or investigation
of
|
|
Secure
|
To gain possession of; to guarantee; to make safe
|
|
Select
|
To choose that which appears to be best suited for a specific
purpose
|
|
Sell
|
To dispose of to a purchaser for money or other valuable
consideration for a price
|
|
Send
|
To dispatch by a means of communication; to convey
|
|
Serve
Shape
|
To assist; to be of use; to hold office
To give definite shape to; to arrange, fashion, express,
or devise a plan or answer in definite form
|
|
Sign
|
To approve a document by affixing a signature
|
|
Simplify
Spearhead
|
To clarify; to reduce to basic essentials
To take the lead in
|
|
Solicit
|
To approach with a request or plea: to acquire
|
|
Solve
|
To find a solution for
|
|
Sort
|
To separate or arrange according to a scheme. Top rank
by kind, class, division, etc.
|
|
Specify
|
To state precisely or in detail
|
|
Spend
|
To use up, pay out, or consume
|
|
Standardize
|
To bring into conformity to something established by authority,
custom, or general consent as a model or criterion
|
|
Stimulate
|
To rouse to action or effort
|
|
Structure
|
To give arrangement or form to; to arrange or organize
|
|
Study
|
To examine or investigate carefully; a detailed examination
and analysis of a subject
|
|
Submit
|
To present for consideration
|
|
Summarize
|
To restate material (facts, figures, etc.) briefly
|
|
Supervise
|
To over-see others
|
|
Supplement
|
To add
|
|
Supply
|
To furnish something that is needed; to provide; to equip
|
|
Survey
|
To examine or to view in detail
|
|
Synthesize
|
To compose or combine parts or elements in order to form
a whole
|
|
Systematize
|
To arrange methodically
|
|
Tabulate
|
To put or arrange in a table or list
|
|
Take
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To get into one's possession
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Tend
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To look after; to be disposed toward an idea, emotion,
way of thinking
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Tender
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To present for acceptance
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Test
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To put to proof; to examine, observe
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Total
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To add up; to compute; whole
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Trace
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To locate something by searching or researching evidence
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Trade
Train
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Act or process of buying, setting, or exchanging commodities
To instruct so as to make proficient or qualified
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Tram
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To teach, demonstrate, or guide others in the performance
of work
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Transact
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To carry on business; to negotiate
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Transcribe
Transform
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To transfer data from one form of record to another or
from one method of preparation to another, without changing the
nature of data
To change the form or outward appearance of
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Translate
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To turn into one's own or another language
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Transmit
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To transfer or send from one person or place to another;
to send out a signal either by radio waves or over a wire
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Turn
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To make rotate or revolve; to cause to move around so
as to effect a desired end (as locking, opening, closing); to
reverse the sides or surfaces of
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Type
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To write using a typewriter; to arrange by categories
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Uncover
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To disclose or reveal
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Understand
|
To grasp the meaning of; to have thorough or technical
acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of
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Update
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To bring current
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Utilize
Validate
|
To put to use
To prove to be well grounded on principles or evidence
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Verify
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To confirm or establish authenticity; to substantiate
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Weigh
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To ascertain the heaviness of; to consider carefully
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Withhold
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To hold back; to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing
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Withstand
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To stand up against; to resist successfully
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Write
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To set down letters, words, sentences, or figures on paper
or other suitable material; to author, to draft
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