sure

[ shoor, shur ]

/ ʃʊər, ʃɜr /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: sure / surest / sureness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, sur·er, sur·est.

free from doubt as to the reliability, character, action, etc., of something: to be sure of one's data.

confident, as of something expected: sure of success.

convinced, fully persuaded, or positive: to be sure of a person's guilt.

assured or certain beyond question: a sure victory.

worthy of confidence; reliable; stable: a sure messenger.

unfailing; never disappointing expectations: a sure cure.

unerring; never missing, slipping, etc.: a sure aim.

admitting of no doubt or question: sure proof.

destined; bound inevitably; certain: sure death.

Obsolete. secure; safe.

be sure, to take care (to be or do as specified); be certain: Be sure to close the windows.

adverb

Informal. certainly; surely: It sure is cold out. Sure, I'll come.

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Idioms about sure

for sure, as a certainty; surely: It's going to be a good day, for sure.

make sure, to be or become absolutely certain: I'm calling to make sure that you remember to come.

sure enough, Informal. as might have been supposed; actually; certainly: Sure enough, the picnic was rained out.

to be sure,

without doubt; surely; certainly.
admittedly: She sings well, to be sure, but she can't act.

Origin of sure

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sur(e), from Middle French sur,Old French seur, from Latin sēcūrus “carefree”; see secure

words often confused with sure

Both sure and surely are used as intensifying adverbs with the sense “undoubtedly, certainly.” In this use, sure is generally informal and occurs mainly in speech and written representations of speech: She sure dazzled the audience with her acceptance speech. It was sure hot enough in the auditorium. Surely is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing, even the most formal: The court ruled that the law was surely meant to apply to both profit-making and nonprofit organizations. See also quick, slow.

OTHER WORDS FROM sure

sureness, nouno·ver·sure, adjectiveo·ver·sure·ly, adverbo·ver·sure·ness, noun

un·sure, adjectiveun·sure·ly, adverbun·sure·ness, noun

Words nearby sure

surcharge, surcingle, surcoat, surculose, surd, sure, sure as shooting, sure cure, sure-enough, surefire, surefooted

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say sure?

Someone who is sure of something is free from doubt about its reliability or character. How does sure compare to synonyms certain, confident, or positive? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.

How to use sure in a sentence

I’m 98 percent sure I saw him at my local Seattle post office over the holidays.
Can Billionaires Really Save Us from Climate Disaster?|Heather Hansman|February 12, 2021|Outside Online
As an SEO professional, we’re sure that there’s one word you’ve heard and used often, and that is, “keywords”.
A comprehensive guide on using Google Trends for keyword research|Aayush Gupta|February 12, 2021|Search Engine Watch
It’s his life and his job on the line, and I want to make sure that I’m protecting his values and everything that he’s doing.
What’s sexy in a pandemic? Caution.|Lisa Bonos|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Also be sure to let friends who haunt garage and estate sales know that you’re on the lookout.
Replacing pieces of flatware or china can be a challenge. Here’s how to track them down.|Laura Daily|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

When she made a half-joking comment about how she was starting to talk to herself, Willie made sure to check up on her more often and visit when she was getting lonely.
Date Lab: One of our setups is still going strong two years later. We caught up with Willie and Renee for an update.|Marin Cogan|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
“They sure took the Sony thing seriously,” Attkisson said dryly.
Ex-CBS Reporter Sharyl Attkisson’s Battle Royale With the Feds|Lloyd Grove|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And it must make sure that the platform of debate where we can freely exchange ideas is safe and sound.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Our duty is to make sure that they realize that the Prophet is not avenged.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I like the idea of Jon Hamm… There have been discussions—though I'm not sure how serious they've been.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“He has to really stay on the down low, he has to make sure that he blends in,” Ney told the Beast.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv|Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When a man converses with himself, he is sure that he does not converse with an enemy.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
I am therefore quite sure I shall be content to await his father's consent, should it not come these many years.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
And sure enough when Sunday came, and the pencil was restored to him, he promptly showed nurse his picture.
Children's Ways|James Sully
He had seen the act committed, he felt sure but had made no effort whatever to stop the thief.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sure

sure

/ (ʃʊə, ʃɔː) /

adjective

(sometimes foll by of) free from hesitancy or uncertainty (with regard to a belief, conviction, etc)we are sure of the accuracy of the data; I am sure that he is lying

(foll by of) having no doubt, as of the occurrence of a future state or eventsure of success

always effective; unfailinga sure remedy

reliable in indication or accuracya sure criterion

(of persons) worthy of trust or confidencea sure friend

not open to doubtsure proof

admitting of no vacillation or doubthe is very sure in his beliefs

bound to be or occur; inevitablevictory is sure

(postpositive) bound inevitably (to be or do something); certainshe is sure to be there tonight

physically secure or dependablea sure footing

obsolete free from exposure to harm or danger

be sure (usually imperative or dependent imperative; takes a clause as object or an infinitive, sometimes with to replaced by and) to be careful or certainbe sure and shut the door; I told him to be sure to shut the door

for sure without a doubt; surely

make sure

(takes a clause as object) to make certain; ensure
(foll by of) to establish or confirm power or possession (over)

sure enough informal as might have been confidently expected; definitely: often used as a sentence substitute

to be sure

without doubt; certainly
it has to be acknowledged; admittedly

adverb

(sentence substitute) informal willingly; yes

(sentence modifier) informal, mainly US and Canadian without question; certainly

Derived forms of sure

sureness, noun

Word Origin for sure

C14: from Old French seur, from Latin sēcūrus secure

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with sure

sure

In addition to the idioms beginning with sure

sure as shooting
sure cure
sure enough
sure of oneself
sure thing

also see:

for certain (sure)
make sure
slow but sure
to be sure

sure

Idioms about sure

Origin of sure

words often confused with sure

OTHER WORDS FROM sure

Words nearby sure

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say sure?

Words related to sure

How to use sure in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sure

Derived forms of sure

Word Origin for sure

Other Idioms and Phrases with sure