sure (ʃʊə
;ʃɔː)
Definitions
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 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
- See be sure
- See for sure
- See make sure
- See sure enough
- See to be sure
adverb
- (sentence substitute) informal willingly; yes
- (sentence modifier) informal mainly US Canadian without question; certainly
Alternative Forms
ˈsureness nounWord Origin
C14: from Old French seur, from Latin sēcūrussecureSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
certain,
positive,
clear,
decided,
convinced,
persuaded,
confident,
satisfied,
assured,
definite,
free from doubt
=
inevitable,
guaranteed,
bound,
assured,
in the bag,
inescapable,
irrevocable,
ineluctable,
nailed-on,
=
reliable,
accurate,
dependable,
effective,
precise,
honest,
unmistakable,
undoubted,
undeniable,
trustworthy,
never-failing,
trusty,
foolproof,
infallible,
indisputable,
sure-fire,
unerring,
well-proven
unfailing,
tried and true,
Translations
- British English:
sure
If you are sure that something is true, you are certain that it is true. If you are not sure about something, you do not know for certain what the true situation is.He was not sure that he was in the right job.ʃʊə; ʃɔː ADJECTIVE He was not sure that he was in the right job.
- Spanish:
seguro
adj segura
- French:
sûr
adj
- German:
sicher
adj
- Chinese: 确定的 adj
- Arabic: مُتَأَكِد adj
- Portuguese: certo adj certa
- Russian: уверенный adj уверенная
- Croatian: siguran adj sigurna
- Czech: jistý adj
- Danish: sikker adj
- Dutch: zeker adj
- Finnish: varma adj
- Greek: βέβαιος adj βέβαιη
- Italian: sicuro adj sicura
- Japanese: 確信して no_posp
- Korean: 확실한 adj
- Norwegian: sikker adj
- Polish: pewny adj pewna
- Brazilian Portuguese: certo adj certa
- European Spanish:
seguro
adj segura
- Swedish: säker adj säkert
- Thai: ไม่ต้องสงสัย adj
- Turkish: emin adj
- Vietnamese: chắc chắn adj
Usage examples
I lay there rigid, making sure that no part of my body touched any part of hers.
, THE EXECUTION (2002)Wait long enough, and you are sure to see a darting kingfisher, a vivid splash of ultramarine against the brown river.
Country Life (2004)The head of Colombia's Catholic Church, Monsignor Alberto Giraldo, was not sure.
Irish Times (2002)For sure , there is not another pianist on God's - or anyone else's - earth quite like him.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Make sure you beat those Americans," came a call from the crowd.
, FATAL STORM (2001)