Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

sure-fire

British  

adjective

  1. informal (usually prenominal) certain to succeed or meet expectations; assured

"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

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:

If the trend of falling stocks having downward momentum were consistent then making outright bets against them would be a sure-fire trading strategy, and it isn’t.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 18, 2026

A celebrity’s ties to a property would create instant buzz—and served as a sure-fire tactic for luring in a line of prospective buyers.

From MarketWatch Jun. 3, 2026

"A candidate who can have a story that makes you want to know what happens next, and who delivers sure-fire twists and turns and thrills, that's what we want."

From BBC Jun. 2, 2026

A supposed sure-fire gold medal disappeared in stunning fashion with Ilia Malinin’s eighth-place collapse.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 16, 2026

Community singing is another sure-fire way to lift the spirits.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com