- present participle of reassure.
reassuring
Americanadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reassuring
First recorded in 1700–10; reassur(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; reassur(e) ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun sense
Explanation
Something reassuring comforts or inspires you. A reassuring smile can help to calm a nervous speaker who's about to give a speech. When you're anxious about singing in the talent show, some reassuring words from your best friend or your dad's reassuring hug can make you feel much more relaxed and confident. And fearful flyers sometimes find the calm voice of the captain reassuring. This adjective comes from the verb reassure, or "restore to confidence," which adds re-, or "again," to assure, which has the Latin root securus, "safe or secure."
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.
Solidifying its cool is the reassuring note at the end of the music video description: “No generative AI was used at any stage in the production of this material.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Whenever he seems confused, I’m delighted; it’s reassuring to see someone so smart still struggle to fathom this thing of ours.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The King's private secretary had spoken on the phone to Uganda's military chief, reassuring him that he approved of Uganda's participation in the games.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
In all honesty, I found these results pretty reassuring: The main “contaminant” of concern that CR found was acrylamide, and that’s by far the least worrying thing to find in food.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
I wish I could find more reassuring words, but I can’t, because she’s probably right.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
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.
