secure
Americanadjective
-
free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.
- Antonyms:
- unsafe
-
dependable; firm; not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening.
The building was secure, even in an earthquake.
-
affording safety, as a place.
He needed a secure hideout.
-
in safe custody or keeping.
Here in the vault the necklace was secure.
-
free from care; without anxiety.
emotionally secure.
-
firmly established, as a relationship or reputation.
He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.
-
sure; certain; assured.
secure of victory;
secure in religious belief.
- Synonyms:
- confident
-
safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons.
secure radio communications between army units.
-
Archaic. overconfident.
verb (used with object)
-
secures,
present (3rd person singular)
-
secured,
past participle, past
-
securing
present participle
-
to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain.
to secure materials;
to secure a high government position.
- Synonyms:
- gain
-
to free from danger or harm; make safe.
Sandbags secured the town during the flood.
-
to effect; make certain of; ensure.
The novel secured his reputation.
-
to make firm or fast, as by attaching.
to secure a rope.
-
Finance.
-
to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.
-
to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.
-
-
to lock or fasten against intruders.
to secure the doors.
-
to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc..
The regiment secured its position.
-
to capture (a person or animal).
No one is safe until the murderer is secured.
-
to tie up (a person), especially by binding the person's arms or hands; pinion.
-
to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of.
to secure diplomatic phone conversations.
verb (used without object)
-
secures,
present (3rd person singular)
-
secured,
past participle, past
-
securing
present participle
-
to be or become safe; have or obtain security.
-
Nautical.
-
to cover openings and make movable objects fast.
The crew was ordered to secure for sea.
-
to be excused from duty.
to secure from general quarters.
-
adjective
-
free from danger, damage, etc
-
free from fear, care, etc
-
in safe custody
-
not likely to fail, become loose, etc
-
able to be relied on; certain
a secure investment
-
nautical stowed away or made inoperative
-
archaic careless or overconfident
verb
-
(tr) to obtain or get possession of
I will secure some good seats
-
to make or become free from danger, fear, etc
-
(tr) to make fast or firm; fasten
-
to make or become certain; guarantee
this plan will secure your happiness
-
(tr) to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security
-
(tr) to make (a military position) safe from attack
-
nautical to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc
-
(tr) nautical to stow or make inoperative
to secure the radio
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
securementnoun
-
securenessnoun
-
securernoun
-
supersecurenessnoun
-
unsecurenessnoun
-
resecureverb
-
presecureverb (used with object)
-
oversecureadjective
-
quasi-secureadjective
-
securableadjective
-
supersecureadjective
-
unsecureadjective
-
well-securedadjective
-
oversecurelyadverb
-
quasi-securelyadverb
-
securelyadverb
-
supersecurelyadverb
-
unsecurelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
securesimple
-
securessimple
-
have securedperfect
-
has securedperfect
-
am securingprogressive
-
are securingprogressive
-
is securingprogressive
-
have been securingperfect progressive
-
has been securingperfect progressive
Past
-
securedsimple
-
had securedperfect
-
was securingprogressive
-
were securingprogressive
-
had been securingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of secure
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin sēcūrus “carefree,” equivalent to sē- se- + cūr(a) “care” ( see cure) + -us, adjective suffix; cf. sure
Explanation
Secure means safe, protected. Your money is secure in a bank. Supportive friends and family make you feel secure. Secure can also be used as a verb. You secure the sails before you take out the sailboat, which means you tie them down. If you secure someone a ticket to a popular Broadway play, you've found them a hard-to-find seat. On an airplane, you're told that in the event you need an oxygen mask, you should secure yours — get it in place — before helping someone else. Almost all meanings contain the idea of safety: making sure things are right.
Vocabulary lists containing secure
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Preamble to the U.S. Constitution (1787)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Tuchel's side are already guaranteed a quarter-final spot and a first-place finish will secure them a tie against one of the runners-ups in one of the three other groups in League A.
From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2026
McGinn's iconic status in Scottish football is secure and will not be tarnished if he fails to climb the mountain.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026
US lawmakers called for investigations into what caused the massive disruption and whether the country is adequately secure from cyber criminality.
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026
Between two and four hours before roasting, fill a gallon zip-top bag with crushed ice, set it on the breast of the turkey resting on the counter, and secure it with twine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Jaya laced the strap through the buckle and tightened it until the tool belt was snug and secure across her chest.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
By the time of his silver jubilee in 1935, the position of this reimagined British monarchy was securer than it had ever been.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 28, 2022
In general, it was not a year in which the older novelists made their reputations securer.
From Time Magazine Archive
"You're the young lady that's missing?" the woman answered, taking a securer hold of the window-frame, and bringing her head into the room.
From Starvecrow Farm by Stanley J. Weyman
The Spaniards, moving on to a securer place, camped to await Pizarro.
From The Spanish Pioneers by Charles F. Lummis
Of all the Americans who have lived, none is securer of lasting remembrance than Rutherford B. Hayes, who was born in Delaware, October 4, 1822.
From Stories Of Ohio by William Dean Howells
The securest hold was Adam Sandler's: his Grown Ups fell a negligible 14%.
From Time ● Jul. 11, 2010
Asserted one of Thatcher's aides: "It's going to stimulate the economy, and expansion is the securest form of revenue."
From Time Magazine Archive
The odds are that Poetry London-New York will not prove the securest of jobs for Tambi.
From Time Magazine Archive
Even threaten the securest position, when long continued.
From Time Magazine Archive
A constitution has been acquired, which, though neither of us thinks perfect, yet both consider as competent to render our fellow-citizens the happiest and the securest on whom the sun has ever shone.
From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 4 by Thomas Jefferson Randolph
UniCredit said a merger between its German arm and Commerzbank could take place earlier than expected, signaling that the integration of the Frankfurt-based lender might accelerate once it secures control.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
A cloud operator raises money, secures power and installs computing equipment.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
Enerflex stock rises sharply after it secures a contract to build generators for a data center developer.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
Littler capitalised by taking out 39 for a win which secures his place at the European Championship in Dortmund in October.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
In the second half Erin blocks three shots, intercepts two passes, drives the lane several times for layups, comes off endless screens, sinks shot after shot, and secures the win easily.
From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick
Tyrrell Hatton secured a commanding victory at the DP World Tour Championship, but all eyes were on the battle to win the season-long Race to Dubai crown.
From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2026
He studied to be an actor under Stella Adler, directed plays and secured low-paying assignments to write monographs and program retrospectives for the Museum of Modern Art and the New Yorker movie house.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Money is needed for utility rate recovery for replacing old equipment that can’t be secured and revolving loans funds for water systems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
Research into the effects of a microplastic spillage on sea-birds and marine life will be carried out for the next year after funding was secured.
From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026
But even with their money secured, they still traveled back and forth to Daffodil Manor instead of staying on like Cook and Mr. Henry did.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
The sale is contingent securing a construction loan to complete the project and Petty said the developers are negotiating financing terms with domestic institutional and private equity lenders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026
Chiang Wan-an, the incumbent Taipei mayor seeking re-election, has emphasized the securing of Nvidia’s Taiwan headquarters, which was announced this year, as one of his successes in office.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026
The Canadian company is partnering with Valeo to integrate its QNX operating system for safety into Valeo’s new front-view smart camera platform, securing design wins with multiple Chinese automakers ahead of production later this year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
On the other extreme were Tottenham, riding high in sixth after 10 games before plummeting 11 places down the standings to finishing 17th, only securing survival on the final day.
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026
Caesar ties the tools together and wraps them in his bedroll, securing them behind the saddle.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
