sure

[ shoor, shur ]

/ ʃʊər, ʃɜr /

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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.

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for 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

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

Example sentences from the Web for sure

Censuring Cuban is the surest way to breed the Donald Sterlings of tomorrow.
Thank You, Mark Cuban, for Speaking Up|Joshua DuBois|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem is, the surest pathway to democratic politics is to support democracy.
Morsi's Miscalculation|Steven Cook|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Deadlock: each side will think their man shaded the other, the surest definition of a stalemate.
At Last, a Passionate Political Debate!|Tunku Varadarajan|October 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
At this point, however, many Americans think they have figured out the quickest, surest way to get peace: just go home.
Afghanistan: Negotiating Didn’t Work—Besides, We’re Leaving|Sami Yousafzai|October 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The club had healthy profits and was generating a good amount of cash—one of the surest measures of a well-managed business.
Manchester United: The Glazer Family’s Bad Play|Michael Moritz|August 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A dignified, modest reserve is the surest way to repel impertinence.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
The attention to the small details of table etiquette is one of the surest marks of good breeding.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Experience has long proved that the surest way to overcome an aversion to a person is to do that person a kindness.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
This, whilst one of the most difficult accomplishments to attain, is the surest mark of a lady.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
If we have lost faith in our vernaculars, it is a sign of want of faith in ourselves; it is the surest sign of decay.
Third class in Indian railways|Mahatma Gandhi

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

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

sure

adjective, sur·er, sur·est.

adverb

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Idioms for sure

Origin of sure

words often confused with sure

OTHER WORDS FROM sure

Example sentences from the Web for sure

British Dictionary definitions for sure

adjective

adverb

Derived forms of sure

Word Origin for sure

Idioms and Phrases with sure

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

sure

adjective, sur·er, sur·est.

adverb

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Idioms for sure

Origin of sure

words often confused with sure

OTHER WORDS FROM sure

Words related to sure

Example sentences from the Web for sure

British Dictionary definitions for sure

adjective

adverb

Derived forms of sure

Word Origin for sure

Idioms and Phrases with sure