sure

[shoo r, shur] /ʃʊər, ʃɜr/
adjective, surer, surest.
1.
free from doubt as to the reliability, character, action, etc., of something:
to be sure of one's data.
2.
confident, as of something expected:
sure of success.
3.
convinced, fully persuaded, or positive:
to be sure of a person's guilt.
4.
assured or certain beyond question:
a sure victory.
5.
worthy of confidence; reliable; stable:
a sure messenger.
6.
unfailing; never disappointing expectations:
a sure cure.
7.
unerring; never missing, slipping, etc.:
a sure aim.
8.
admitting of no doubt or question:
sure proof.
9.
destined; bound inevitably; certain:
sure death.
10.
Obsolete. secure; safe.
11.
be sure, to take care (to be or do as specified); be certain:
Be sure to close the windows.
adverb
12.
Informal. certainly; surely:
It sure is cold out. Sure, I'll come.
Idioms
13.
for sure, as a certainty; surely:
It's going to be a good day, for sure.
14.
make sure, to be or become absolutely certain:
I'm calling to make sure that you remember to come.
15.
sure enough, Informal. as might have been supposed; actually; certainly:
Sure enough, the picnic was rained out.
16.
to be sure,
  1. without doubt; surely; certainly.
  2. admittedly:
    She sings well, to be sure, but she can't act.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English sur(e) < Middle French sur, Old French seur < Latin sēcūrus secure
Related forms
sureness, noun
oversure, adjective
oversurely, adverb
oversureness, noun
unsure, adjective
unsurely, adverb
unsureness, noun
Synonyms
1. Sure, certain, confident, positive indicate full belief and trust that something is true. Sure, certain, and positive are often used interchangeably. Sure, the simplest and most general, expresses mere absence of doubt. Certain suggests that there are definite reasons that have freed one from doubt. Confident emphasizes the strength of the belief or the certainty of expectation felt. Positive implies emphatic certainty, which may even become overconfidence or dogmatism.
Usage note
Both sure and surely are used as intensifying adverbs with the sense “undoubtedly, certainly.” In this use, sure is generally informal and occurs mainly in speech and written representations of speech: She sure dazzled the audience with her acceptance speech. It was sure hot enough in the auditorium. Surely is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing, even the most formal: The court ruled that the law was surely meant to apply to both profit-making and nonprofit organizations. See also quick, slow.
Examples from the web for sure
  • It is a rare sure thing in a post-bubble age of uncertainty.
  • Avoid boots with padding inside, a sure sign of shoddy construction.
  • If evolution has a top-ten list of nifty innovations, then complex social behavior is sure to be on it.
  • No one can tell you for sure what the appendix does.
  • Be sure to cook only with pesticide-free lavenders grown for culinary use.
  • That's why it's best to make sure your secret agent gear is top quality and working properly.
  • So in the end there is no sure formula, and you'll need to use your own best judgment.
  • Six is not enough to be sure that oscillation is going on, but it is a strong hint that it might be.
  • Make sure that all of the cards are lined up evenly in the stack.
  • Crucial advice for future banding participants: before you grab the bird's body, be sure your partner has grabbed the head.
British Dictionary definitions for sure

sure

/ʃʊə; ʃɔː/
adjective
1.
(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
2.
(foll by of) having no doubt, as of the occurrence of a future state or event: sure of success
3.
always effective; unfailing: a sure remedy
4.
reliable in indication or accuracy: a sure criterion
5.
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence: a sure friend
6.
not open to doubt: sure proof
7.
admitting of no vacillation or doubt: he is very sure in his beliefs
8.
bound to be or occur; inevitable: victory is sure
9.
(postpositive) bound inevitably (to be or do something); certain: she is sure to be there tonight
10.
physically secure or dependable: a sure footing
11.
(obsolete) free from exposure to harm or danger
12.
(usually imperative or dependent imperative; takes a clause as object or an infinitive, sometimes with to replaced by and) be sure, to be careful or certain: be sure and shut the door, I told him to be sure to shut the door
13.
for sure, without a doubt; surely
14.
make sure
  1. (takes a clause as object) to make certain; ensure
  2. (foll by of) to establish or confirm power or possession (over)
15.
(informal) sure enough, as might have been confidently expected; definitely: often used as a sentence substitute
16.
to be sure
  1. without doubt; certainly
  2. it has to be acknowledged; admittedly
adverb
17.
(sentence substitute) (informal) willingly; yes
18.
(sentence modifier) (informal, mainly US & Canadian) without question; certainly
Derived Forms
sureness, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French seur, from Latin sēcūrussecure
Word Origin and History for sure
adj.

c.1300, "safe, secure," later "mentally certain" (mid-15c.), from Old French sur, seur "safe, secure," from Latin securus "free from care, untroubled, heedless, safe" (see secure (adj.)). Pronunciation development followed that of sugar. As an affirmative meaning "yes, certainly" it dates from 1803, from Middle English meanings "firmly established; having no doubt," and phrases like to be sure (1650s), sure enough (1540s), and for sure (1580s). The use as a qualifier meaning "assuredly" goes back to early 15c. Sure-footed is from 1630s; sure thing dates from 1836. In 16c.-17c., Suresby was an appellation for a person to be depended upon.

Slang definitions & phrases for sure

sure

affirmation

Yes; certainly: Sure, I'll support you (1842+)

Related Terms

shitsure


sure in Technology


["Towards a Broader Basis for Logic Programming", Bharat Jayaraman, TR CS Dept, SUNY Buffalo, 1990].
(1995-01-05)

Idioms and Phrases with sure

sure

also see: