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

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Question 1 of 7

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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. 2023

How to use secure in a sentence

The Bengals, Cowboys and Giants each have less than a one percent chance to secure the future services of Lawrence.
It’s really hard to describe how bad the Jets are, but here’s our best effort|Neil Greenberg|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Everyone is very nice, and my job is secure, but I was passed over for promotion this year, and I am terrified that if I let anything drop now, I’ll be skipped again in the next round of promotions.
You deserve a work-life balance, even if you’re child-free in a pandemic|Karla Miller|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Among the display publishers, Rakuten secured the largest traffic share with almost 17%.
Holiday marketing: Get the data that puts you ahead of the competition|Sarah Mehlman|November 10, 2020|Search Engine Watch
The second time, though, Ryan was in the right place and secured the game-winning interception.
Washington football notes: Run-stop struggles, and the future at quarterback|Sam Fortier|November 10, 2020|Washington Post

The buyer must secure financing, complete the home inspection process and other conditions that the buyer and seller have set forth.
Hints From Heloise: Help food banks get through the holidays|Heloise Heloise|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
I also located a loaded shotgun, unsecure, in our bedroom closet.
Explosive Hopper Divorce Doc|Jacob Bernstein|January 25, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The gun and ammunition was unsecure and easily accessible, including to Galen [Victoria and Dennis' six year old daughter].
Explosive Hopper Divorce Doc|Jacob Bernstein|January 25, 2010|DAILY BEAST

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