Our research supports this view.
They produced no evidence to back up their claims.
Recent archeological discoveries seem to support the idea that there was a settlement here in Roman times.
corroborate verb [transitive] a formal word meaning to provide additional information that shows that what someone else has said is true. You use corroborate especially about findings or results:
Further research is needed to corroborate the results of this study before the treatment is made available to the general public.
Her evidence was corroborated by two other witnesses.
validate verb [transitive] a formal word meaning to prove that something is correct using scientific tests or very careful checking. You use validate especially about claims, theories, or data:
Our data is collected and validated by a team of 120 researchers, using multiple sources to ensure reliability.
We know that some scientists have altered the findings of their research in order to validate their claims.
Before a theory can be validated, it needs to pass a further test, which we might call the review test.
substantiate verb [transitive] a formal word meaning to provide additional information that helps prove that a statement is correct. You use substantiate especially about allegations and claims:
The investigation substantiated allegations made by former employees of the company.
The evidence normally used to substantiate this claim is drawn from the work of Brennan and McGeevor (1985).
2. To show that something is likely
suggest verb [transitive] to show that something is probably true, even though there is no definite proof:
This suggests that humans existed on earth thousands of years earlier than was previously thought.
Recent research strongly suggests that high protein diets are actually bad for you.
indicate verb [transitive] if scientific facts, tests, figures etc indicate something, they show that it is probably true:
Figures for 2002 indicate that more and more people are choosing not to get married.
Investigations by government scientists have indicated that pesticides could be the cause of the condition, which results in children being born blind.
imply verb [transitive] if a piece of information implies that something is true, it shows that it is likely to be true, often in an indirect way:
The maths and science reports imply that together these two subjects should occupy about one-third of the timetable.
This implies that a vast number of universes exist with our own, each having equal reality.
there is some evidence that used when some evidence shows that something is true:
There is some evidence that foods rich in vitamin A and vitamin C may give protection against cancer.
give the impression to make you think that a situation exists, even though this may not actually be true:
Textbooks often give the impression that history is about the activities of kings and queens.
The report gives the impression of having been rather hastily put together.
lead to the conclusion that to make you decide that something is likely to be true after examining all the facts, arguments etc:
All these arguments lead to the conclusion that there should be greater control on gun ownership.
3. To show that something is untrue
disprove verb [transitive] to show that something is untrue:
The results of the experiment seemed to disprove her theory.
Some people think that drinking coffee helps burn off fat. Scientific studies have clearly disproved this idea.
contradict verb [transitive] if one statement, study, piece of evidence etc contradicts another, it makes the other one seem completely untrue or impossible:
A study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital contradicts the results of the Canadian study.
Recent evidence appears to contradict his hypothesis.
refute verb [transitive] a formal word meaning to prove what someone has said is untrue:
All attempts to refute Einstein's theory have failed.
Her research refutes the idea that population growth is desirable and will not cause ecological damage.
invalidate verb [transitive] a formal word meaning to prove that someone's ideas or arguments contain mistakes, with the result that it is unlikely that they are true:
Most people now believe that Marx's ideas have been invalidated by history.
Problems with the way the original data was collected invalidated their findings.
An international inspection would easily confirm or invalidate such reports.
demolish verb [transitive] to prove that something is completely wrong. You use demolish especially about arguments:
Chomsky was able to demolish many of Skinner's arguments about how people acquire language.
He demolished the widely held belief that the sun went around the Earth.
Study & Research
To study something in order to try to find out more about it
The work of studying something
A piece of writing by someone who is studying a subject
The results of someone's research
1. To study something in order to try to find out more about it
study verb [intransitive and transitive] to examine a subject carefully in order to find out more about it and discover new facts:
Scientists are studying what causes the disease.
Pavlov studied how dogs could be trained to associate certain sounds with food.
She has been studying the relationship between writers' lives and their work.
do / carry out / conduct research to study something, especially as a part of a scientific or academic project:
Universities are finding it difficult to get the funding they need to do basic research.
The research was carried out by a team of scientists at Newcastle University.
The department is conducting research into how to make diesel engines burn fuel more efficiently.
Since 1992, the team has been carrying out research into the effects of human activity on wildlife.
STUDY NOTE: Grammar
Conduct research is more formal than do research or carry out research.
research verb [intransitive and transitive] to study a particular subject, especially a particular detailed part of a subject:
She spent her life researching the causes of major childhood illnesses and birth defects.