Assert

/əˈsɜrt/

Meaning & Definition

verb

To state or express firmly.

The lawyer will assert her client's innocence in court.

To maintain or defend a position or claim.

He tried to assert his authority as the team leader.

To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

The scientist asserted that her research was groundbreaking.

To demonstrate or affirm the existence or presence of something.

She needed to assert her independence from her parents.

From Latin 'assertus', past participle of 'asserere', meaning 'to claim, to maintain'.

assert one's rights

To claim or defend one's legal entitlements.

assert oneself

To take action to make one's wishes known or to take control of a situation.

assert a position

To state or uphold a certain viewpoint in discussions or arguments.

assertion

A confident statement or declaration.

assertive

Having a strong or confident personality.

assertiveness

The quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive.

To back up one's claims.

If you say that, you'd better assert it.

To stand one's ground in an argument.

She really asserted her point during the debate.