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 if it hurts, hopefully it motivates those who are in power to make sure that when these things come to light, they put a stop to it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The next time my mother tells me that something does not feel right, I will make sure her work-up is thorough and her screenings—the ones that the current evidence recommends—are current.
From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026
The researchers also stress the need to strengthen local scientific capacity and make sure that useful evidence reaches policymakers who can turn it into conservation decisions.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
“You’ve got to make sure that the voices that will champion the Smithsonian are heard, and I think we’ve done all that very well.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Elliot jumped at the word letter like it had electrocuted him somehow, glancing left and right as though to make sure we were alone.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
