Meaning & use
assert
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Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
To state firmly and with confidence that something is true.
Grammar: Takes an object or a that-clause: assert that she was innocent.
Patterns
- assert that something is true
- assert something
The defendant asserted that he had never been in the building.
She asserts that the new method is faster.
The company asserted its right to use the name.
verbtransitive
To behave in a confident way so that other people recognize your rights, authority or opinions.
Grammar: Often with a reflexive pronoun: assert yourself.
Patterns
- assert yourself
- assert your authority
He needs to assert himself during meetings.
The new manager asserted her authority from day one.
Citizens asserted their right to vote.
Word forms
| third person singular | asserts |
|---|---|
| past tense | asserted |
| past participle | asserted |
| -ing form | asserting |
Common combinations
- assert yourself
- You must learn to assert yourself at work.
- assert your authority
- The captain asserted his authority over the crew.
- assert a claim
- The family asserted a claim to the land.
- assert your independence
- Teenagers often assert their independence.
- firmly assert
- She firmly asserted that the data was accurate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- claim
- Claim often suggests the statement has not been proved, while assert stresses the confident manner of saying it.
- declare
- Declare is more formal and public, as an announcement, while assert can be a quiet but firm statement.
- maintain
- Maintain means to keep saying the same thing despite doubt, whereas assert can be a first statement.
- insist
- Insist is more forceful and shows refusing to accept disagreement, so it is stronger than assert.
Opposites
Word family
- assertion noun
- a confident statement
- assertive adjective
- confident and forceful in a good way
- assertively adverb
- in a confident manner
- assertiveness noun
- the quality of being confident in stating your views
- self-assertion noun
- the act of insisting on your own rights
Commonly confused: assert or assure? assert or aver?
assert vs assure
Assure someone means to promise them that something is true to calm them. Assert is about stating your own claim.
assert vs aver
Aver is a rarer, formal word meaning to state positively, and it is less common than assert.
Practice
If you never speak up in meetings, you may need to ____ yourself more.
Choose one answer.
Assert yourself means to act confidently so that others respect your views. Assure yourself would mean to make yourself certain, which does not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “assert”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.