noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/əˈsɜːt/
General-American:/əˈsɝt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)t
CMU ARPABET:AH0 S ER1 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Synonym of assertion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: assertion
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To declare with assurance or plainly and strongly; to state positively.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He would often assert that there was life on other planets.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: affirm, asseverate, aver, avow
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To use or exercise and thereby prove the existence of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
to assert one's authority
Salman Rushdie has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exert
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures; to vindicate a claim or title to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
to assert our rights and liberties
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To insist on the legitimacy of one's rights, opinion, etc; not to allow oneself to be dismissed; to ensure that one is taken into consideration; to make oneself respected; to be assertive. See assert oneself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: reflexive
Examples
Since going to therapy, I've found it much easier to assert myself.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To declare that a condition or expression must be true at a certain point in the source code (in some cases causing the program to fail if it is not, as a safeguard).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
From Latin assertus, perfect passive participle of asserō (“declare someone free or a slave by laying hands upon him; hence free from, protect, defend; lay claim to, assert, declare”), from ad (“to”) + serō (“join, range in a row”).
Across languages
Translations
84 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
փաստարկել
(pʻastarkel)
— to affirm
Armenian:
հաստատել
(hastatel)
— to affirm
Bulgarian:
твърдя
(tvǎrdja)
— to affirm
Catalan:
asseverar
— to affirm
Catalan:
asserir
— to affirm
Chinese Mandarin:
断定
(duàndìng)
— to affirm
Czech:
tvrdit
— to affirm
Danish:
forsikre
— to affirm
Danish:
bedyre
— to affirm
Dutch:
bevestigen
— to affirm
Esperanto:
aserti
— to affirm
Finnish:
väittää
— to affirm
Finnish:
vakuuttaa
— to affirm
French:
affirmer
— to affirm
French:
attester
— to affirm
Georgian:
განცხადება
(gancxadeba)
— to affirm
German:
versichern
— to affirm
German:
zusichern
— to affirm
German:
beteuern
— to affirm
Greek:
ισχυρίζομαι
(ischyrízomai)
— to affirm
Greek:
υποστηρίζω
(ypostirízo)
— to affirm
Hungarian:
bizonygat
— to affirm
Hungarian:
megerősít
— to affirm
Hungarian:
erősködik
— to affirm
Italian:
asserire
— to affirm
Italian:
affermare
— to affirm
Korean:
확고히 하다
(hwakgohi hada)
— to affirm
Korean:
주장하다
(jujanghada)
— to affirm
Latin:
assevērō
— to affirm
Latin:
affirmō
— to affirm
Māori:
whakanonoi
— to affirm
Māori:
whakatūturu
— to affirm
Māori:
whakakoia
— to affirm
Māori:
whakakoikoia
— to affirm
Norwegian:
forsikre
— to affirm
Norwegian:
bedyre
— to affirm
Portuguese:
assertar
— to affirm
Portuguese:
afirmar
— to affirm
Russian:
утвержда́ть
(utverždátʹ)
— to affirm
Russian:
утверди́ть
(utverdítʹ)
— to affirm
Serbo-Croatian:
твр́дити
— to affirm
Serbo-Croatian:
за̀ја̄мчити
— to affirm
Serbo-Croatian:
tvŕditi
— to affirm
Serbo-Croatian:
zàjāmčiti
— to affirm
Slovak:
tvrdiť
— to affirm
Spanish:
aseverar
— to affirm
Spanish:
asertar
— to affirm
Swedish:
bedyra
— to affirm
Turkish:
iddia etmek
— to affirm
Turkish:
öne sürmek
— to affirm
Ukrainian:
стве́рджувати
(stvérdžuvaty)
— to affirm
Ukrainian:
стве́рдити
(stvérdyty)
— to affirm
Finnish:
vahvistaa
— to use or exercise and thereby prove
Finnish:
vakiinnuttaa
— to use or exercise and thereby prove
Greek:
διακηρύσσω
(diakirýsso)
— to use or exercise and thereby prove
Italian:
esercitare
— to use or exercise and thereby prove
Slovak:
uplatniť
— to use or exercise and thereby prove
Slovak:
nárokovať si
— to use or exercise and thereby prove
Bulgarian:
защитавам
(zaštitavam)
— To maintain; to defend
Bulgarian:
отстоявам
(otstojavam)
— To maintain; to defend
Finnish:
puolustaa
— To maintain; to defend
Finnish:
väittää
— To maintain; to defend
French:
asseoir
— To maintain; to defend
German:
beteuern
— To maintain; to defend
Italian:
difendere
— To maintain; to defend
Italian:
rivendicare
— To maintain; to defend
Japanese:
主張する
(shuchō-sur)
— To maintain; to defend
Māori:
whakawhena
— To maintain; to defend
Māori:
whakanonoi
— To maintain; to defend
Portuguese:
assegurar
— To maintain; to defend
Russian:
отста́ивать
(otstáivatʹ)
— To maintain; to defend
Russian:
отстоя́ть
(otstojátʹ)
— To maintain; to defend
Slovak:
zastávať
— To maintain; to defend
Ukrainian:
відстоювати
(vidstojuvaty)
— To maintain; to defend
Dutch:
behouden
— To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures
Dutch:
verdedigen
— To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures
Finnish:
vakuuttaa
— To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures
German:
beteuern
— To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures
Italian:
sostenere
— To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures
Italian:
far valere
— To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures
Māori:
whakanonoi
— To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or measures
