demonstrate and prove share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. demonstrate means “give an exhibition of to an interested audience”. prove means “be shown or be found to be”. prove is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈdɛmənˌstɹeɪt/
1.v.give an exhibition of to an interested audience
“She shows her dogs frequently”
2.v.establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment
“The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound”
3.v.provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
“His high fever attested to his illness”
/ˈpɹuv/
1.v.be shown or be found to be
“She proved to be right”
2.v.establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment
“The experiment demonstrated the instability of the compound”
3.v.provide evidence for
“The blood test showed that he was the father”
| demonstrate | prove | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛmənˌstɹeɪt/ | /ˈpɹuv/ |
| Said | DEM-uhn-strayt | proov |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Letters | 11 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | verb | verb |
| Senses | 4 | 9 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | show, demo, exhibit | turn out, turn up |
Full entry for demonstrate · Full entry for prove · More comparisons