secure

American  

[si-kyoor] / sɪˈkyʊər /

adjective

securer, securest

1. free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.

   Antonyms:

   unsafe

2. dependable; firm; not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening.

   The building was secure, even in an earthquake.

   Synonyms:

   fixed, fast, stable

3. affording safety, as a place.

   He needed a secure hideout.

4. in safe custody or keeping.

   Here in the vault the necklace was secure.

5. free from care; without anxiety.

   emotionally secure.

6. firmly established, as a relationship or reputation.

   He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.

7. sure; certain; assured.

   secure of victory;

   secure in religious belief.

   Synonyms:

   confident

8. safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons.

   secure radio communications between army units.

9. Archaic. overconfident.

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verb (used with object)

secured, securing

1. to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain.

   to secure materials;

   to secure a high government position.

   Synonyms:

   gain

2. to free from danger or harm; make safe.

   Sandbags secured the town during the flood.

   Synonyms:

   safeguard, guard, protect

3. to effect; make certain of; ensure.

   The novel secured his reputation.

   Synonyms:

   guarantee, assure

4. to make firm or fast, as by attaching.

   to secure a rope.

5. Finance.

   1. to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.

   2. to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.

6. to lock or fasten against intruders.

   to secure the doors.

7. to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc..

   The regiment secured its position.

8. to capture (a person or animal).

   No one is safe until the murderer is secured.

9. to tie up (a person), especially by binding the person's arms or hands; pinion.

10. to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of.

    to secure diplomatic phone conversations.

verb (used without object)

secured, securing

1. to be or become safe; have or obtain security.

2. Nautical.

   1. to cover openings and make movable objects fast.

      The crew was ordered to secure for sea.

   2. to be excused from duty.

      to secure from general quarters.

secure British  

/ sɪˈkjʊə /

adjective

1. free from danger, damage, etc

2. free from fear, care, etc

3. in safe custody

4. not likely to fail, become loose, etc

5. able to be relied on; certain

   a secure investment

6. nautical stowed away or made inoperative

7. archaic careless or overconfident

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verb

1. (tr) to obtain or get possession of

   I will secure some good seats

2. to make or become free from danger, fear, etc

3. (tr) to make fast or firm; fasten

4. to make or become certain; guarantee

   this plan will secure your happiness

5. (tr) to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security

6. (tr) to make (a military position) safe from attack

7. nautical to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc

8. (tr) nautical to stow or make inoperative

   to secure the radio

Related Words

See safe. See get.

Other Word Forms

• oversecure
  adjective
• oversecurely
  adverb
• presecure
  verb (used with object)
• quasi-secure
  adjective
• quasi-securely
  adverb
• resecure
  verb
• securable
  adjective
• securely
  adverb
• securement
  noun
• secureness
  noun
• securer
  noun
• supersecure
  adjective
• supersecurely
  adverb
• supersecureness
  noun
• unsecure
  adjective
• unsecurely
  adverb
• unsecureness
  noun
• well-secured
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

Germany's industrial decline is taking a painful toll on communities that have long relied on local manufacturing titans for jobs, prosperity and a sense of a secure future.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

But speakers on Saturday made clear they do not see those victories as secure.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

A low unemployment rate and near-record-low level of layoffs are also big pillars of support for further spending, as people spend more when they feel secure in their jobs.

From MarketWatch • May 16, 2026

The largely farming community - already struggling economically - is now appealing urgently to the government to help secure the safe return of the children.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Jonesy is usually able to secure this seat because her neighborhood is an earlier stop, but today it’s still available.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

• achieve
• assure
• buy
• capture
• ensure
• gain
• get
• guarantee
• have
• insure
• take
• win