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sure
[ shoor, shur ]
adjective
- 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.
sure
/ ʃɔː; ʃʊə /
adjective
- sometimes foll by of free from hesitancy or uncertainty (with regard to a belief, conviction, etc)
I am sure that he is lying
we are sure of the accuracy of the data
- foll by of having no doubt, as of the occurrence of a future state or event
sure of success
- always effective; unfailing
a sure remedy
- reliable in indication or accuracy
a sure criterion
- (of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
a sure friend
- not open to doubt
sure proof
- admitting of no vacillation or doubt
he is very sure in his beliefs
- bound to be or occur; inevitable
victory is sure
- postpositive bound inevitably (to be or do something); certain
she is sure to be there tonight
- physically secure or dependable
a sure footing
- obsolete.free from exposure to harm or danger
- be sureusually imperative or dependent imperative; takes a clause as object or an infinitive, sometimes with to replaced by and to be careful or certain
be sure and shut the door
I told him to be sure to shut the door
- for surewithout 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
- informal.sentence substitute willingly; yes
- informal.sentence modifier without question; certainly
Confusables Note
Derived Forms
- ˈܰԱ, noun
Other 51Թ Forms
- ܰn noun
- v·ܰ adjective
- v·ܰly adverb
- over·ܰn noun
- ܲ·ܰ adjective
- ܲ·ܰly adverb
- un·ܰn noun
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of sure1
Idioms and Phrases
- 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.
More idioms and phrases containing sure
- for certain (sure)
- make sure
- slow but sure
- to be sure
Example Sentences
Not sure how much money the country is saving from the policy, but I do know the message that it sends to the rest of the world can’t be worth it.
Whatever you decide, make sure you’re thinking about both the financial and lifestyle implications.
You just kind of lock in, treat it as a playoff game, a must-win, and I’m sure other teams are like that too.”
He was sure the whole thing was a scam.
The problem is, she’s not quite sure what it is she does want.
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Related 51Թs
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 .
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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