assert

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈsɝt/ UK /əˈsɜːt/ See IPA manual

Freq #20758

Meanings

1

verb
To state firmly that something is true.

She asserted that she had never seen the man before.
2

verb
To behave confidently so that your rights or opinions are respected.

You need to assert yourself more in meetings.
3

verb
To defend or claim something, such as a right, as belonging to you.

The workers asserted their right to fair pay.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to state firmly that... insist maintain affirm aver avow

2 verb · to behave confidently so... put forward

3 verb · to defend or claim... exert

Opposites

deassertdeny remit

Word family

Forms assertedassertingasserts

Derived forms assertabilityassertableasserter assertiveassertmentassertorcounterassertmisassertoverassertreassertunassert

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

assert oneself
to express your wishes or defend your position confidently

Verb + reflexive pronoun

Etymology

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”).

*ser- (bind) Proto-Indo-European assertus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# assert

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈsɝt/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈsɜːt/
**Frequency rank:** 20758

## Meanings
1. To state firmly that something is true.
2. To behave confidently so that your rights or opinions are respected.
3. To defend or claim something, such as a right, as belonging to you.

## Examples
- She asserted that she had never seen the man before.
- You need to assert yourself more in meetings.
- The workers asserted their right to fair pay.

## Antonyms
- deassert
- deny
- remit

## Derived Forms
- assertability
- assertable
- asserter
- assertive
- assertment
- assertor
- counterassert
- misassert
- overassert
- reassert
- unassert

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ser- (bind)
- Root: assertus

## Etymology
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”).

## AI Etymology
Assert comes 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”) plus serō (“join, range in a row”). The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *ser- (bind). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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