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sure

Syllabification: (sure)
Pronunciation: /SHo͝or/

Translate sure | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of sure

adjective

  • [predic. often with clause] confident in what one thinks or knows; having no doubt that one is right:I’m sure I’ve seen that dress before she had to check her diary to be sure of the day of the week
  • (sure of) having a certain prospect or confident anticipation of:Ripken can be sure of a place in the Hall of Fame
  • [with infinitive] certain to do something:it’s sure to rain before morning
  • true beyond any doubt:what is sure is that learning is a complex business
  • [attributive] able to be relied on or trusted:her neck was red—a sure sign of agitation
  • confident; assured:the drawings impress by their sure sense of rhythm

adverb

informal
  • certainly (used for emphasis):Texas sure was a great place to grow up
  • [as an exclamation] used to show assent:“Are you serious?” “Sure.”

Phrases

be sure

[usually in imperative] do not fail (used to emphasize an invitation or instruction): [with infinitive]:be sure to drop by [with clause]:be sure that you know what is required

for sure

informal without doubt:I can’t say for sure what George really wanted

make sure

[usually with clause] establish that something is definitely so; confirm:go and make sure she’s all right
ensure that something is done or happens:he made sure that his sons were well educated

sure enough

informal used to introduce a statement that confirms something previously predicted:when X-rays were taken, sure enough, there was the needle

sure of oneself

very confident of one’s own abilities or views:he’s very sure of himself

sure thing

informal a certainty.
[as exclamation] certainly; of course:“Can I watch?” “Sure thing.”

to be sure

used to concede the truth of something that conflicts with another point that one wishes to make:the ski runs are very limited, to be sure, but excellent for beginners
used for emphasis:what an extraordinary woman she was, to be sure

Derivatives

sureness

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French sur, from Latin securus 'free from care'

sure in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of sure in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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leporine

/ ˈlɛpərʌɪn /
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