claims; claimed; claim·ing

¹claim /ˈkleɪm/ verb

claims; claimed; claim·ing

[+ obj] 1 : to say that (something) is true when some people may say it is not true 
▪ The man claimed (that) he was a long-lost relative

▪ They claim (that) the drug prevents hair loss.

 ▪She claims (that) the landlord owes her money. — often followed by to + verb 

▪ He claims to knownothing about the robbery. ▪ He claims to be an expert.

2 a : to say that you have (something) 

▪ He claims a connection to British royalty. ▪ The organization claims 10,000 members. ▪ He claimedignorance of the robbery. [=he said that he had no knowledge about the robbery] 

b : to say that (something) belongs to you or that you deserve (something) 

▪ The terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. ▪ New Yorkers proudly claim the artist as one of their own. ▪ Both of them claimed credit for the idea. ▪ No one ever claimed authorship for the poem.