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.
-
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.
That’s kind of why I want to go to college, want to get an engineering degree, and make sure that maybe I can take my kids one day to a Rams game.
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
To make sure Europeans immediately know whether the online content they see is real or fake.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Helen Walton, head of the Data and Analysis Service, said the data was "important" as it helped make sure inflation figures remained accurate and reflected the reality of what islanders spend money on.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
No way to make sure -the mud was swirling thick around him, and he couldn’t risk opening his fist in case they slipped free -but he could feel the weight of them dragging him down.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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.
