ensure
Americanverb (used with object)
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ensures,
present (3rd person singular)
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ensured,
past participle, past
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ensuring
present participle
verb
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(may take a clause as object) to make certain or sure; guarantee
this victory will ensure his happiness
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to make safe or secure; protect
Usage
What's the difference between ensure, insure, and assure? Ensure most commonly means to guarantee or make certain, as in Working hard ensures success. Insure typically means to guarantee against loss or harm or, more specifically, to cover with insurance. Assure usually means to tell someone something with confidence or to cause someone to know something with certainty—it often means the same thing as reassure. It’s no wonder there’s confusion between the three words—all three are verbs that are based on the Latin root sēcūrus, meaning safe. Making things even more confusing is the fact that ensure and insure can be used interchangeably in most senses. Still, insure is much more commonly used in the context of insurance, like car insurance, health insurance, and homeowner’s insurance. These kinds of insurance insure you—they give you coverage that provides you with compensation in certain cases and situations. Ensure is typically used in a more general way in the context of actions that are done to make sure that something happens or is the case, as in We need to ensure that the meeting starts on time. Assure is always used in the context of communication, especially in situations in which someone is trying to make someone else feel better about something. It’s used in the phrase rest assured. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to remember the most common uses of each word:ensure = make sureinsure = cover with insuranceassure = reassureHere’s an example of ensure, insure, and assure used correctly in a sentence. Example: She assured me that the company has ensured that every employee has the opportunity to be insured. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between ensure, insure, and assure.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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ensuresimple
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ensuressimple
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have ensuredperfect
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has ensuredperfect
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am ensuringprogressive
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are ensuringprogressive
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is ensuringprogressive
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have been ensuringperfect progressive
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has been ensuringperfect progressive
Past
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ensuredsimple
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had ensuredperfect
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was ensuringprogressive
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were ensuringprogressive
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had been ensuringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of ensure
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ensuren, from Anglo-French enseurer; see en- 1 ( def. ), sure ( def. )
Explanation
When you ensure that something will happen, you guarantee it. All that homework will ensure that you have no time for fun this afternoon! Ensure comes from the Old French en- "make" plus seur "sure," and that is exactly what it means today - "to make sure or certain, to guarantee." If you ensure success or someone's safety, you are guaranteeing it. Make sure you can really come through with something before you ensure it!
Vocabulary lists containing ensure
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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Chains
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Engagement of patients and family/caregivers in the multidisciplinary care process also helps to ensure patients' priorities are met, improve their experience and promote patient-centered care."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
The police spokesman added: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland will ensure that anyone who chooses to take part in this type of criminality is brought to justice, just as Dunnett has been."
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
As of this week, the U.S. had redirected 87 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to ensure total compliance, Centcom said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
The reason they did so was to ensure they got a vote on a bill that would help lobstermen.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
Sverrisson, his wife and two children, and Miyoko had traveled to Selfoss the night before to ensure that the arrangements were in order.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Come up with a plan that ensures the best outcome for both partners.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Any lithium-ion battery sold in the UK for these vehicles must meet safety requirements set out by the government that ensures the batteries can be charged safely, do not overheat and are protected from damage.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“This approach ensures Raley’s remains strong and well-positioned to serve customers and communities for generations to come,” Carbahal said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
“But we can create a ‘variety’ of experiences that ensures we find someone better than anyone on the other side of the field.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
But the curse of knowledge ensures that most writers will overestimate how standard a term has become and how wide the community is that has learned it.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
“We held the agency accountable, made things right for every customer involved, ensured each was notified directly and provided direct customer support along with courtesy Bilt Points,” a spokesman said.
From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026
"We have already coordinated with parents and guardians to pick up their children and the university has ensured the safety of those remaining on campus," it said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
Choreographer Christian John-Devi Vincent, who also plays Ricky Davis in the franchise, ensured that the movement followed the growth of Alex Kirby, the drag star played by Rodney Chester.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Thursday's Europa League comeback in Pafos - coming from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 and progress 4-3 on aggregate - ensured Salzburg reached the Europa League play-off round against Sweden's Mjallby.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Ironically, it was precisely this framing that ensured that the events in Jena would not actually launch a “new civil rights movement.”
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
And for a series where the stakes are so high, no expense is spared in ensuring that the film team know exactly how each auditionee will come across on screen.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
In his view, the deal “is about ensuring that no one becomes dominant in AI models and the services that are built on them.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
“We are committed to ensuring the workplace is professional, respectful and free from misconduct.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
“Regardless of political party or perspective, we share a common goal: ensuring that Americans can have confidence that their election mail will be handled securely and delivered reliably,” the spokesperson said.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026
“Come in,” Kathy said sullenly, ensuring that her voice matched her mood so everybody in the house knew she was still a massive ball of gloom and shame.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
