Meaning & use
stablish or establish
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A pairing used to ask which of two forms is correct, where the modern standard word is "establish".
Grammar: Used as a comparison heading, not as a sentence: "stablish or establish?" means "which spelling should I use?"
Patterns
- X or Y
The student wrote "stablish or establish" in the margin, unsure which form to use.
In a quiz on old texts, the question "stablish or establish" asks you to pick the modern word.
verbtransitive
To set up something such as an organization, rule, or system so that it lasts.
Grammar: Takes an object: establish a company. The old form "stablish" works the same way but is no longer used.
Patterns
- establish something
- establish that + clause
- establish something as something
The council hopes to establish a new library in the east of the city.
They established the charity in 1990 and it is still running today.
The report establishes that the bridge needs urgent repairs.
verbtransitive
To prove or show clearly that a fact is true.
Grammar: Takes a clause or noun object: establish the cause; establish that he was absent.
Patterns
- establish something
- establish that + clause
- establish whether + clause
Police have not yet established the cause of the fire.
The study establishes a clear link between sleep and memory.
We need to establish whether the payment was received.
Word forms
| third person singular | establishes |
|---|---|
| past tense | established |
| past participle | established |
| -ing form | establishing |
Common combinations
- establish a business
- She established a small design business from her kitchen.
- establish contact
- The team established contact with the missing climbers by radio.
- establish a reputation
- He quickly established a reputation for honesty.
- well established
- The tradition is well established in this region.
- establish the facts
- The judge asked the lawyer to establish the facts first.
Synonyms and how they differ
- found
- Use "found" for starting an institution with money or an official act; "establish" is broader and can also mean proving something.
- set up
- "Set up" is more informal and often about practical arrangements, while "establish" sounds more formal and lasting.
- prove
- "Prove" fits only the "show that something is true" sense; it cannot replace "establish" when you mean creating an organization.
Opposites
Word family
- establishment noun
- An organization, business, or the act of setting one up.
- established adjective
- Accepted, recognized, or long in existence.
- reestablish verb
- To set something up again after it has stopped.
Commonly confused: stablish or establish or stablish? stablish or establish or stabilize?
stablish or establish vs stablish
An archaic variant of "establish" found in older religious writing; modern writers should avoid it.
stablish or establish vs stabilize
Means to make something steady or unlikely to change, not to create or prove it.
Practice
Which sentence uses the standard modern form correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Establish" is the standard modern verb after "to"; "stablish" is archaic, "stablishing" cannot follow "to" here, and "established" is a past form, not a base form after "to".
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stablish or establish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.