secure

[ si-kyoor ]

/ sɪˈkyʊər /

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See synonyms for: secure / secured / securing / securable on Thesaurus.com

adjective, se·cur·er, se·cur·est.

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

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.

safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons: secure radio communications between army units.

Archaic. overconfident.

verb (used with object), se·cured, se·cur·ing.

to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain: to secure materials; to secure a high government position.

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), se·cured, se·cur·ing.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR secure

1 protected.

2 stable, fast, fixed.

7 confident.

10 gain.

11 protect, guard, safeguard.

12 assure, guarantee.

See synonyms for secure on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR secure

1 unsafe.

See antonyms for secure on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of secure

1525–35; from Latin sēcūrus “carefree,” equivalent to sē- se- + cūr(a) “care” (see cure) + -us adjective suffix; cf. sure

synonym study for secure

1. See safe. 10. See get.

OTHER WORDS FROM secure

se·cur·a·ble, adjectivese·cure·ly, adverbse·cure·ness, nounse·cur·er, noun

o·ver·se·cure, adjective, verb (used with object), o·ver·se·cured, o·ver·se·cur·ing.o·ver·se·cure·ly, adverbpre·se·cure, verb (used with object), pre·se·cured, pre·se·cur·ing.qua·si-se·cure, adjectivequa·si-se·cure·ly, adverbre·se·cure, verb, re·se·cured, re·se·cur·ing.su·per·se·cure, adjectivesu·per·se·cure·ly, adverbsu·per·se·cure·ness, nounun·se·cure, adjectiveun·se·cure·ly, adverbun·se·cure·ness, nounwell-se·cured, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use secure in a sentence

The decision to retire came as a surprise to many, but also secured his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
The enduring and ongoing legacy of Bjergsen|Noah Smith|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Another issue facing all food providers involves securing meals.
‘Can’t eat a gift card’: Rural food banks fight to put turkeys on the table|Kyle Swenson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Asked by The Post about his responses to lawmakers, Churchill said in a statement that he was proud of the state’s procurement officers for their “unprecedented effort to secure large quantities of medical commodities.”
Hogan’s first batch of coronavirus tests from South Korea were flawed, never used|Steve Thompson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Book one of the 60 free RV parking spots in advance to secure your space.
10 Ski Areas Where You Can Camp in the Parking Lot|Megan Michelson|November 20, 2020|Outside Online

They’d also secured a dramatic victory over the Seahawks last month in Arizona on a field goal late in overtime.
Kyler Murray runs out of miracles as Seahawks hang on to take over first place in NFC West|Mark Maske|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The Senate Intelligence Committee report says they secured a contract with the CIA in 2006 valued “in excess of $180 million.”
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built|Michael Daly|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jonathan Moore, who secured the $1.7 million settlement in the Stewart case, is representing them.
Before Eric Garner, There Was Michael Stewart: The Tragic Story of the Real-Life Radio Raheem|Marlow Stern|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Along with amnesty, our borders were to be secured once and for all.
The Liberal Case Against Illegal Immigration|Doug McIntyre|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her mother was illiterate, but she secured a tutor for both her sons and her daughters, and Juana could read by the age of 3.
Sor Juana: Mexico’s Most Erotic Poet and Its Most Dangerous Nun|Katie Baker|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Patterson secured the permission of the landowner to venture onto the property.
He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles|Michael Daly|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He has secured the release of certain Spanish prisoners, and is building two ships.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
This is secured only by right objects of thought; it is impossible to reach it by voluntary mechanics.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Of course, newly acquired Ferns will pay for extra attention in the way of watering until they have secured a proper roothold.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
Never had Punch secured the telling of that tale with so little opposition.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
But, he finally secured the address of a company who would manufacture a book to exceed 300 pages for fifty cents per book.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux

British Dictionary definitions for secure

secure

/ (sɪˈkjʊə) /

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; certaina secure investment

nautical stowed away or made inoperative

archaic careless or overconfident

verb

(tr) to obtain or get possession ofI will secure some good seats

(when intr, often foll by against) to make or become free from danger, fear, etc

(tr) to make fast or firm; fasten

(when intr, often foll by against) to make or become certain; guaranteethis 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 inoperativeto secure the radio

Derived forms of secure

securable, adjectivesecurely, adverbsecurement, nounsecureness, noun

securer, noun

Word Origin for secure

C16: from Latin sēcūrus free from care, from sē- without + cūra care

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

secure

OTHER WORDS FOR secure

OPPOSITES FOR secure

Origin of secure

synonym study for secure

OTHER WORDS FROM secure

Words related to secure

How to use secure in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for secure

Derived forms of secure

Word Origin for secure