establish
/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈsta-blish/ (ame, mw)
establish — verb
- establishpresent simple I / you / we / they
- establisheshe / she / it
- establishedpast simple
- establishing-ing form
1. To create and set up a business, institution, or system so that it continues to
To create and set up a business, institution, or system so that it continues to exist and operate over time — for example, opening a new school, founding a company, or launching a government programme.
Joon established a small bakery in Taipei after years of training in France.
establish + [business/organisation] as direct object
The University of Tokyo was established in 1877 and is one of Asia's oldest schools.
passive: be established + [date/year] for founding
Élise established a support network for new mothers in her neighbourhood.
The government established a task force to investigate the cause of the floods.
- found
more formal and precise for creating cities, universities, or institutions; 'found' emphasises the very beginning, while 'establish' can also imply building up over time
- set up
more informal; used for everyday situations like starting a small business or system ('set up a blog', 'set up a meeting')
- create
broader in meaning; implies bringing something into existence but does not carry the sense of long-term continuity
- close down
to stop operating a business or organisation permanently
- abolish
to officially end a system, law, or institution
文法句型
establish + noun (business / organisation / system)
常見錯誤
2. To start a formal connection — such as a working relationship or diplomatic ties
To start a formal connection — such as a working relationship or diplomatic ties — between yourself and another person, organisation, or country, for example by opening talks or making contact with a new business partner.
Tara established a close working relationship with the Japanese supplier.
establish + relationship / connection
The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992 after years of conflict.
Hamza established contact with a local charity through a mutual friend.
Before launching the project, the team established strong links with community leaders.
- set up
less formal; 'set up a meeting' vs 'establish contact'; 'set up' works for practical arrangements, 'establish' for durable relationships
- forge
stronger connotation of effort and difficulty; 'forge an alliance' implies overcoming obstacles
- form
neutral and broad; 'form a partnership' can be used anywhere 'establish a partnership' appears, but sounds less official
文法句型
establish + noun (relationship / ties / contact / links)
用法筆記
Common objects include relationship, contact, ties, links, and communication — always referring to the beginning point of the connection. Once a relationship is established, you maintain or strengthen it, not re-establish it (unless it was broken first).
常見錯誤
3. To cause yourself, an idea, a rule, or a practice to become recognised, accepted
To cause yourself, an idea, a rule, or a practice to become recognised, accepted, and respected by others in a particular setting — for example, proving your reliability to colleagues, or making a habit widely followed within a group.
It took Ilan several months to establish himself as a reliable member of the team.
establish + reflexive pronoun + as [role]
The coach established a tradition of team breakfasts before every match.
Esteban established the company's reputation for fair trade by treating workers well.
The language teacher established a routine of daily conversation practice in her class.
- build
emphasises the gradual process; 'build a reputation' suggests step-by-step effort, while 'establish a reputation' emphasises the final result of being accepted
- secure
suggests gaining something after effort or competition; 'secure someone's trust' implies it was not easy to earn
- earn
focuses on deserving recognition through one's actions; 'earn respect' is more personal and less formal than 'establish oneself as a respected figure'
文法句型
establish + reflexive pronoun + as + noun
establish + noun + as + complement
用法筆記
Frequently used with reflexive pronouns (establish yourself/himself/oneself etc.) followed by as to indicate a role or position that the person has earned recognition for. When the object is an abstract thing (reputation, rule, custom), the implication is that it became standard through consistent effort over time.
常見錯誤
4. To reach and keep a stable, successful position in a particular setting, profess
To reach and keep a stable, successful position in a particular setting, profession, or market after investing time and effort — for example, a new restaurant winning regular customers, or a professional gaining respect in their field over years of work.
After five years of hard work, the restaurant had established itself as a local favourite.
establish + itself + as [achieved position]
Pim established himself among the top chess players in the country.
The brand has established a strong presence in the European market.
Kwame moved to Canada and worked hard to establish himself in his new profession.
- secure
focuses on gaining a position firmly; 'secure a foothold in the market' emphasises protecting what you gained, not just reaching it
- settle
softer and less ambitious; 'settle into a new job' implies comfort, not necessarily competitive success
- entrench
stronger and can sound negative; 'entrenched interests' implies a position so fixed it resists change
文法句型
establish + reflexive pronoun + as + noun (position)
establish + itself
用法筆記
Almost always used with a reflexive pronoun (itself, yourself, himself, etc.) or a reference to position (presence, foothold, standing). Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 is about being accepted as a certain kind of person; sense 4 is about occupying a successful position, often competitively.
5. To prove that something is true by discovering facts, evidence, or reasons that
To prove that something is true by discovering facts, evidence, or reasons that confirm it beyond reasonable doubt — for example, detectives showing who committed a crime, or researchers demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship through experiments.
Police established that the suspect was at the scene during the robbery.
establish + that-clause for proving facts
Scientists have established a clear connection between air pollution and respiratory illness.
An investigation established the cause of the fire as faulty electrical wiring.
Medical researchers established that regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease.
- prove
the closest synonym; 'prove' is less formal and more common in everyday speech; 'establish' implies a more thorough, systematic verification
- determine
focuses on the investigative process of finding the answer; 'determine the cause' suggests careful analysis rather than providing proof to others
- confirm
implies that something was already suspected or partially known; 'confirm the results' means checking that what you expected is true
- verify
focuses on checking accuracy against a standard; 'verify an identity' means checking documents match the person
文法句型
establish + that-clause
establish + noun + as + complement
用法筆記
The only sense that regularly takes a that-clause to state the conclusion reached. This sense is formal and typical of legal, scientific, and journalistic contexts. In everyday conversation, 'prove' or 'find out' are more natural substitutes.