secure

[ si-kyoor ]

adjective

, se·cur·er, se·cur·est.

1. free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.

   Antonyms: unsafe

2. dependable; firm; not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening:

   The building was secure, even in an earthquake.

   Synonyms: fixed, fast, stable

3. affording safety, as a place:

   He needed a secure hideout.

4. in safe custody or keeping:

   Here in the vault the necklace was secure.

5. free from care; without anxiety:

   emotionally secure.

6. firmly established, as a relationship or reputation:

   He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.

7. sure; certain; assured:

   secure of victory;

   secure in religious belief.

   Synonyms: confident

8. safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons:

   secure radio communications between army units.

9. Archaic. overconfident.

verb (used with object)

, se·cured, se·cur·ing.

1. to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain:

   to secure materials;

   to secure a high government position.

   Synonyms: gain

2. to free from danger or harm; make safe:

   Sandbags secured the town during the flood.

   Synonyms: safeguard, guard, protect

3. to effect; make certain of; ensure:

   The novel secured his reputation.

   Synonyms: guarantee, assure

4. to make firm or fast, as by attaching:

   to secure a rope.

5. Finance.
   1. to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.
   2. to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.
6. to lock or fasten against intruders:

   to secure the doors.

7. to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc.:

   The regiment secured its position.

8. to capture (a person or animal):

   No one is safe until the murderer is secured.

9. to tie up (a person), especially by binding the person's arms or hands; pinion.
10. to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of:

    to secure diplomatic phone conversations.

verb (used without object)

, se·cured, se·cur·ing.

1. to be or become safe; have or obtain security.
2. Nautical.
   1. to cover openings and make movable objects fast:

      The crew was ordered to secure for sea.

   2. to be excused from duty:

      to secure from general quarters.

secure

/ sɪˈkjʊə /

adjective

1. free from danger, damage, etc
2. free from fear, care, etc
3. in safe custody
4. not likely to fail, become loose, etc
5. able to be relied on; certain

   a secure investment

6. nautical stowed away or made inoperative
7. archaic.
   careless or overconfident

verb

1. tr to obtain or get possession of

   I will secure some good seats

2. whenintr, often foll by against to make or become free from danger, fear, etc
3. tr to make fast or firm; fasten
4. whenintr, often foll by against to make or become certain; guarantee

   this plan will secure your happiness

5. tr to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security
6. tr to make (a military position) safe from attack
7. nautical to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc
8. tr nautical to stow or make inoperative

   to secure the radio

Derived Forms

• seˈcureness, noun
• seˈcurely, adverb
• seˈcurer, noun
• seˈcurement, noun
• seˈcurable, adjective

Other Words From

• se·cura·ble adjective
• se·curely adverb
• se·cureness noun
• se·curer noun
• over·se·cure adjective verb (used with object) oversecured oversecuring
• over·se·curely adverb
• pre·se·cure verb (used with object) presecured presecuring
• quasi-se·cure adjective
• quasi-se·curely adverb
• rese·cure verb resecured resecuring
• super·se·cure adjective
• super·se·curely adverb
• super·se·cureness noun
• unse·cure adjective
• unse·curely adverb
• unse·cureness noun
• well-se·cured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of secure¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin sēcūrus “carefree,” equivalent to sē- se- + cūr(a) “care” ( cure ) + -us, adjective suffix; sure

Word History and Origins

Origin of secure¹

C16: from Latin sēcūrus free from care, from sē- without + cūra care

Synonym Study

See safe. See get.

Example Sentences

Their leader, Njie, still going by “Dave” during the operation, would stay a safe distance away until the State House was secure.

From The Daily Beast

I need to resist my urge to talk them into my truth, just so I can feel more comfortable and secure.

From The Daily Beast

If someone wants to ensure a direct and secure connection, no entity, whether a hotel or otherwise, should be able to block it.

From The Daily Beast

However, we have just had a necessary wake-up call that all is not as secure as we believed.

From The Daily Beast

I want to bring this to your kind attention with the hope that you will help me secure an unbiased resolution.

From The Daily Beast

Polavieja, as everybody knew, was the chosen executive of the friars, whose only care was to secure their own position.

From Project Gutenberg

Nearly half the regiment ran to secure their picketed horses, armed themselves in hot haste, and galloped to the gaol.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole aim is to secure the development of character by the expression of the highest elements of character.

From Project Gutenberg

Even genius, however, needs direction and adjustment to secure the most perfect and reliable results.

From Project Gutenberg

Feeling secure regarding their happiness and welfare, she did not miss them except with an occasional intense longing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• achieve
• assure
• buy
• capture
• ensure
• gain
• get
• guarantee
• have
• insure
• take
• win