justify

英 ['dʒʌstɪfaɪ] 美['dʒʌstə'fai]

• vi. 证明合法；整理版面
• vt. 证明…是正当的；替…辩护

1. show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for;

"The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns"

"The end justifies the means"

2. show to be right by providing justification or proof;

"vindicate a claim"

3. defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning;

"rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"

"he rationalized his lack of success"

4. let off the hook;

"I absolve you from this responsibility"

5. adjust the spaces between words;

"justify the margins"