make sure
Idioms-
Make certain, establish something without doubt, as in Make sure all the doors are locked . It is also put as make sure of , as in Before you make that speech, make sure of your facts . This usage was first recorded in 1565.
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make sure of . Act so as to be certain of something, as in He wanted to make sure of his own district before seeking support elsewhere . This usage was first recorded in 1673.
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.
“And so we want to make sure that the productive conversations we’ve had the last couple of weeks on that section specifically are reflected in the drafting of the bill.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
He says he has kept fighting because he considers it his duty to make sure the Bill of Rights “actually means something.”
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
He plans to work with local leaders, employers and schools, to "identify the industries driving growth in local areas and make sure that local kids have a clear route into them".
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
To make sure Europeans immediately know whether the online content they see is real or fake.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
“I just need to make sure I can get a ride.”
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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.
