secure

American  

[si-kyoor] / sɪˈkyʊər /

adjective

securer, securest

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.

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verb (used with object)

secured, securing

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)

secured, securing

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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (tr) to obtain or get possession of

   I will secure some good seats

2. to make or become free from danger, fear, etc

3. (tr) to make fast or firm; fasten

4. 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

Related Words

See safe. See get.

Other Word Forms

• oversecure
  adjective
• oversecurely
  adverb
• presecure
  verb (used with object)
• quasi-secure
  adjective
• quasi-securely
  adverb
• resecure
  verb
• securable
  adjective
• securely
  adverb
• securement
  noun
• secureness
  noun
• securer
  noun
• supersecure
  adjective
• supersecurely
  adverb
• supersecureness
  noun
• unsecure
  adjective
• unsecurely
  adverb
• unsecureness
  noun
• well-secured
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of secure

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

Explanation

Secure means safe, protected. Your money is secure in a bank. Supportive friends and family make you feel secure. Secure can also be used as a verb. You secure the sails before you take out the sailboat, which means you tie them down. If you secure someone a ticket to a popular Broadway play, you've found them a hard-to-find seat. On an airplane, you're told that in the event you need an oxygen mask, you should secure yours — get it in place — before helping someone else. Almost all meanings contain the idea of safety: making sure things are right.

Example Sentences

Raman’s team used their donations to secure $1.26 million in public matching funds, receiving the maximum amount possible.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

The Tigers, who beat third-placed Millwall to secure their place in the play-off final last Monday, have been the division's surprise package this season.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

He said that the Commerce Department’s investment marks a “bold step” to secure “U.S. supremacy and competitiveness through developing at-scale fabrication and device capabilities.”

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

These protesters sacrificed their own safety to secure something deemed even more sacred: their right to vote.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

He placed his communication stone in a secure zipped pocket.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

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