First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1sure
adjective \ˈshu̇r, especially Southern ˈshȯr\
: not having any doubt about something : convinced or certain
: not allowing any doubt or possibility of failure
: known to be true or correct
sur·ersur·est
Full Definition of SURE
1
obsolete : safe from danger or harm
2
: firmly established : steadfast <a sure hold>
3
: reliable, trustworthy <a sure friend>
4
a : marked by or given to feelings of confident certainty <I'm sure I'm right> b : characterized by a lack of wavering or hesitation <sure brush strokes> <a sure hand>
5
: admitting of no doubt : indisputable <spoke from sure knowledge>
6
a : bound to happen : inevitable <sure disaster> b : bound, destined <is sure to win>
7
: careful to remember, attend to, or find out something <be sure to lock the door>
— sure·ness noun
— for sure
: without doubt or question : certainly
— to be sure
: it must be acknowledged : admittedly
See sure defined for English-language learners
See sure defined for kids
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Origin of SURE
Middle English seur, sure, from Anglo-French seur, from Latin securus secure
Related to SURE
Synonym Discussion of SURE
sure, certain, positive, cocksure mean having no doubt or uncertainty. sure usually stresses the subjective or intuitive feeling of assurance <felt sure that I had forgotten something>. certain may apply to a basing of a conclusion or conviction on definite grounds or indubitable evidence <police are certain about the cause of the fire>. positive intensifies sureness or certainty and may imply opinionated conviction or forceful expression of it <I'm positive that's the person I saw>. cocksure implies presumptuous or careless positiveness <you're always so cocksure about everything>.
2sure
adverb
—used to say “yes” or to agree to a request or suggestion
—used to disagree with a negative statement or suggestion
—used to emphasize that you agree with the first part of the statement that you are about to make
Full Definition of SURE
: surely
See sure defined for English-language learners
Usage Discussion of SURE
Most commentators consider the adverb sure to be something less than completely standard; surely is usually recommended as a substitute. Our current evidence shows, however, that sure and surely have become differentiated in use. Sure is used in much more informal contexts than surely. It is used as a simple intensive <I can never know how much I bored her, but, be certain, she sure amused me — Norman Mailer> and, because it connotes strong affirmation, it is used when the speaker or writer expects to be agreed with <it's a moot point whether politicians are less venal than in Twain's day. But they're sure as the devil more intrusive — Alan Abelson> <he sure gets them to play — D. S. Looney>. Surely, like sure, is used as a simple intensive <I surely don't want to leave the impression that I had an unhappy childhood — E. C. Welsh> but it occurs in more formal contexts than sure. Unlike sure it may be used neutrally—the reader or hearer may or may not agree <it would surely be possible, within a few years, to program a computer to construct a grammar — Noam Chomsky> and it is often used when the writer is trying to persuade <surely a book on the avant-garde cannot be so conventional — Karl Shapiro>.
First Known Use of SURE
14th century
Related to SURE
- Synonyms
- all right, alright, assuredly, certainly, clearly, definitely, doubtless, easily, forsooth, hands down, inarguably, incontestably, incontrovertibly, indisputably, plainly, really, so, indeed, surely, truly, unarguably, undeniably, undoubtedly, unquestionably
SURE Defined for Kids
1sure
adjective \ˈshu̇r\
sur·ersur·est
Definition of SURE for Kids
1
: having no doubt : certain <… he could not be sure if the scream awakened him or the pain in his stomach. — Gary Paulsen, Hatchet>
2
: true without question
3
: firmly established <a sure grip>
4
: reliable, trustworthy <a sure remedy>
5
: bound to happen <sure disaster>
6
: bound as if by fate <You are sure to win.>
2sure
adverb
Definition of SURE for Kids
1
: surely 1
2
: surely 2 <Sure, we'll be there.> <“Well, you sure gave me some bad moments. I almost passed out …” — Oliver Butterworth, The Enormous Egg>
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