What does verify mean?
Word: Verify
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Verify means to check that something is true, correct or really happened.
Synonyms: check, confirm, prove
How do you spell verify?
Syllables: ver - i - fy
Tricky part: It starts ver-, with an e, though careless spellers write var-.
Watch out for: varify, verrify
Memory tip: Vary means to change and verify means to check: do not let the a of vary slip into verify.
Verify in a sentence
Example 1: Mum called the shop to verify that it was open on Sunday.
Example 2: Scientists repeat an experiment many times to verify their results.
Example 3: The bank asked Papa to verify his address with a letter.
Fun Fact
Websites sometimes ask you to tick a box or pick out pictures to verify that you are a human and not a computer program.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
One word in the sentence is misspelt. Which option gives the meaning of that word?
Before the quiz, our teacher asked us to verefy each answer in the textbook so that nobody learnt a wrong fact.
a) something that is known to be true
b) to look for proof that something is accurate
c) a book used for studying a subject at school
d) a short test or game in which people answer questions
Show answer
b) to look for proof that something is accurate. Verify has an i after the r; it means to look for proof that something is accurate.
Sound Check
In which word is 'y' pronounced differently?
a) verify
b) apply
c) deny
d) happy
Show answer
d) happy. The y in happy says 'ee'; in the other three it rhymes with my.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) verify : verification
b) purify : purification
c) clarify : clarifacation
d) justify : justification
Show answer
c) clarify : clarifacation. The right spelling is clarification; there is no a straight after the f.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
fryvie 123456
a) 642513
b) 426513
c) 462153
d) 462513
Show answer
d) 462513. Taking letters 4, 6, 2, 5, 1 and 3 in turn rebuilds verify.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Before trusting a surprising news story, how could you verify it?
a) Believe it because it sounds exciting
b) Read only the headline and nothing else
c) Check whether other reliable sources report it
d) Share it with all your friends at once
Show answer
c) Check whether other reliable sources report it
2. Zoe types her new password twice when she makes an account. Why does the website ask her to do this?
a) to check she typed it correctly
b) to make her password longer
c) to send her a brand-new password
d) to change the colour of the screen
Show answer
a) to check she typed it correctly
