To confirm means to establish that something is true or correct, or to make a plan or arrangement definite. When your teacher confirms that there's a field trip next week, she's verifying it's really happening. When you confirm your dentist appointment, you're letting them know you'll definitely be there.

Confirmation often involves checking facts or getting proof. A scientist might confirm her hypothesis through experiments. A detective confirms a suspect's alibi by finding witnesses. When you're not sure if you remembered the homework correctly, you might confirm it with a friend or check the assignment board.

The word also means to make something official or final. When you RSVP to a birthday party, you're confirming your attendance. A company confirms your order when they send you an email saying it's been processed. In some religious traditions, young people go through a ceremony called confirmation where they affirm their faith.

Notice the difference between assuming something and confirming it. You might assume the library is open on Sunday, but you confirm it by checking its hours online. Confirmation removes doubt and replaces it with certainty.