sure Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
    certain.
    • felt certain of success
    • was sure (or certain) she had seen it
    • was very sure in his beliefs
    • sure of her friends
  2. adjective satellite exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance
    certain.
    • be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through
    • be sure to lock the doors
  3. adjective certain to occur; destined or inevitable
    certain.
    • he was certain to fail
    • his fate is certain
    • In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes"- Benjamin Franklin
    • he faced certain death
    • sudden but sure regret
    • he is sure to win
  4. adjective satellite physically secure or dependable
    • a sure footing
    • was on sure ground
  5. adjective satellite reliable in operation or effect
    certain.
    • a quick and certain remedy
    • a sure way to distinguish the two
    • wood dust is a sure sign of termites
  6. adjective satellite (of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
    trusted.
    • a sure (or trusted) friend
  7. adjective satellite infallible or unfailing
    • a sure (or true) sign of one's commitment
  8. adjective satellite certain not to fail
    • a sure hand on the throttle
  9. adjective satellite impossible to doubt or dispute
    indisputable.
    • indisputable (or sure) proof
  10. adverb definitely or positively (`sure' is sometimes used informally for `surely')
    certainly; sure enough; sure as shooting; surely; for certain; for sure.
    • the results are surely encouraging
    • she certainly is a hard worker
    • it's going to be a good day for sure
    • they are coming, for certain
    • they thought he had been killed sure enough
    • he'll win sure as shooting
    • they sure smell good
    • sure he'll come

WordNet

Sure adjective
Etymology
OE. sur, OF. seür, F. sûr, L. securus; se aside, without + cura care. See Secure, and cf. Assure, Insure, Sicker sure.
Wordforms
comparative Surer ; superlative Surest
Definitions
  1. Certainly knowing and believing; confident beyond doubt; implicity trusting; unquestioning; positive.
    We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. Rom. ii. 2.
    I'm sure care 's an enemy of life. Shak.
  2. Certain to find or retain; as, to be sure of game; to be sure of success; to be sure of life or health.
  3. Fit or worthy to be depended on; certain not to fail or disappoint expectation; unfailing; strong; permanent; enduring. "His sure word." Keble.
    The Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord. 1 Sam. xxv. 28.
    The testimony of the Lord is sure. Ps. xix. 7.
    Which put in good sure leather sacks. Chapman.
  4. Betrothed; engaged to marry. Obs.
    The king was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God. Sir T. More.
    I presume . . . that you had been sure as fast as faith could bind you, man and wife. Brome.
  5. Free from danger; safe; secure.
    Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that we are sure enough. Shak.
    --
    She that's made sure to him she loves not well. Cotgrave.
    Syn. -- Certain; unfailing; infallible; safe; firm; permanent; steady; stable; strong; secure; indisputable; confident; positive.
Sure adverb
Definitions
  1. In a sure manner; safely; certainly. "Great, sure, shall be thy meed." Spenser.
    'T is pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print. Byron.

Webster 1913