What does “assert” mean?
- 1
verbto state firmly that something is true
The lawyer asserted that her client was innocent.
- 2
verbto act firmly to show your authority or claim your rights
Young children often assert their independence.
Assert at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb
- CEFR level
- C1 (advanced)
- Pronunciation
- /əˈsɝt/ · uh-SURT
How to use “assert” correctly
“Assert yourself” means behave confidently so people respect you. A useful reporting verb for essays.
Common phrases with “assert”
- assert that
- assert your rights
- assert yourself
- assert authority
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- deny
Word family
- assertion
- assertive
- assertiveness
“assert” is on these word lists
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