secure

[ si-kyoor ]

/ sɪˈkyʊər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR secure 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.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Here is our second set of teacher-selected PSAT vocabulary words. Do you know the meanings of these terms?

Question 1 of 10

advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of secure

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

SYNONYMS FOR secure

1 protected. See safe.

2 stable, fast, fixed.

7 confident.

10 gain. See get.

11 protect, guard, safeguard.

12 assure, guarantee.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR secure ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR secure

1 unsafe.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR secure ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Words nearby secure

secundigravida, secundine, secundines, secundipara, secundus, secure, secure server, secure tenancy, secure unit, securement, securities

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for secured

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
We found that Mrs. Spiker had secured her rights, and was on duty that day as nurse.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
As a political result it would have secured to me the possession of the throne.
Hortense, Makers of History Series|John S. C. Abbott
His schooling, which was slight, was secured in his native town.
Great Inventions and Discoveries|Willis Duff Piercy
This was agreed to, under articles of capitulation, by which the effects of the people therein were secured to them.
The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 2 of 2|Edgerton Ryerson
He next exerted himself in the cause of two young lovers, and secured their happiness.
The Fairy Mythology|Thomas Keightley

British Dictionary definitions for secured

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WORD OF THE DAY

secure

adjective, se·cur·er, se·cur·est.

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

verb (used without object), se·cured, se·cur·ing.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Origin of secure

SYNONYMS FOR secure

ANTONYMS FOR secure

OTHER WORDS FROM secure

Words nearby secure

Example sentences from the Web for secured

British Dictionary definitions for secured

adjective

verb

Derived forms of secure

Word Origin for secure

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

secure

adjective, se·cur·er, se·cur·est.

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

verb (used without object), se·cured, se·cur·ing.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Origin of secure

SYNONYMS FOR secure

ANTONYMS FOR secure

OTHER WORDS FROM secure

Words nearby secure

Words related to secured

Example sentences from the Web for secured

British Dictionary definitions for secured

adjective

verb

Derived forms of secure

Word Origin for secure