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'd never been in a class before and he was not even sure that he should have beenteaching.
The president has never been sure which direction he wanted to go in on this issue.
She was no longer sure how she felt about him.
It is impossible to be sure about the value of land. [+ about]
[Also + of]
Synonyms: certain, positive, clear, decided More Synonyms of sure
2. adjective
If someone is sure of getting something, they will definitely get it or they think they will definitely get it.
It's better to pay so that you can be sure of getting quality. [+ of]
It is the self-assurance of the new generation which makes them sure of their success.
3. phrase
If you say that something is sure to happen, you are emphasizing your belief that it will happen.
[emphasis]
With over 80 beaches to choose from, you are sure to find a place to lay your towel.
Anyone who goes food shopping without a list is sure to forget the things they reallyneed.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Sure is used to emphasize that something such as a sign or ability is reliable or accurate.
[emphasis]
Sharpe's leg and shoulder began to ache, a sure sign of rain.
She has a sure grasp of social issues such as literacy, poverty and child care.
surenessuncountable noun
New to the job, he was keen to demonstrate his sureness of mind.
If you tell someone to be sureto do something, you mean that they must not forget to do it.
[emphasis]
Be sure to read about how mozzarella is made, on page 65.
Be sure you get your daily quota of calcium.
6. convention
Sure is an informal way of saying 'yes' or 'all right'.
[formulae]
'He rang you?'—'Sure. Last night.'
'I'd like to be alone, O.K?'—'Sure. O.K.'
'We'll phone and you can make an appointment'—'Sure. What time do you want to go?'
7. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You can use sure in order to emphasize what you are saying.
[informal, emphasis]
'Has the whole world just gone crazy?'—'Sure looks that way, doesn't it.'
It sure is hot, he thought.
8.
See sure enough
9.
See for sure
10.
See make sure
11.
See make sure
12.
See sure thing
13.
See sure thing
14.
See to be sure
15.
See be sure of oneself
More Synonyms of sure
sure in British English
(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. be sure
13. for sure
14. make sure
15. sure enough
16. to be sure
adverb
17. (sentence substitute) informal
willingly; yes
18. (sentence modifier) informal, mainly US and Canadian
without question; certainly
Derived forms
sureness (ˈsureness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French seur, from Latin sēcūrussecure
sure in American English
(ʃʊr)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈsurer or ˈsurest
1. Obsolete
secure or safe
2.
that will not fail; always effective
a sure method
3.
that can be relied upon; trustworthy
a sure friend
4.
that cannot be doubted, questioned, or disputed; absolutely true; certain
5.
having or showing no doubt; positive; confident
to be sure of one's facts
6.
that can be counted on to be or happen
a sure defeat
7.
bound or destined to do, experience, or be something specified
sure to be elected
8.
never missing; unerring
a sure aim
adverbWord forms: ˈsurer or ˈsurest Informal
9.
surely; inevitably
10.
certainly; indeed
an intensive, often used as an affirmative answer to questions
Idioms:
for sure
make sure
sure enough
to be sure
SYNONYMY NOTE: sure, the simple word, suggests merely an absence of doubt or hesitancy [I'm sure you don't mean it]; certain usually suggests conviction based on specific grounds or evidence [this letter makes me certain of his innocence]; confident stresses the firmness of one's certainty or sureness, esp. in some expectation [she's confident she'll win]; positive suggests unshakable confidence, esp. in the correctness of one's opinions or conclusions,sometimes to the point of dogmatism [he's too positive in his beliefs]
OPPOSITE: doubtful
Derived forms
sureness (ˈsureness)
noun
Word origin
OFr seur < L securus: see secure
More idioms containing
sure
sure as eggs is eggs
Examples of 'sure' in a sentence
sure
We have just made sure we have done things consistently.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Make sure you are certain who you are dealing with.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The blue smoke is a sure sign the engine is burning some oil with the petrol.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Can we be sure that something of the sort will not happen again?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The stock price is sure to go up.
Mishkin, Frederic S. Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (1995)
We are sure you will find all of these a real treat.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We are not really sure if it is one step back at the moment.
The Sun (2006)
You have it all today so be sure to use it.
The Sun (2013)
Victory would be one sure way of racing appearing on front pages for the right reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Or we are pretty sure we do.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When he comes here he is going to get abuse for sure.
The Sun (2014)
Are you quite sure of your own discretion?
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
One prediction is sure to come true.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
And he will make sure it delivers by overseeing it himself.
The Sun (2011)
This time she was sure it was the pills but she could not convince anyone else.
Trickett, Shirley Coming Off Tranquillizers and Sleeping Pills (1991)
Just make sure you have a quiet room to retire to afterwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Be sure to sign up now and enter for a chance to win this great prize.
The Sun (2014)
The key to making it a success is making sure your house works as an office as well as a home.
The Sun (2014)
As sure as night follows day.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Despite all the ink spilled on the subject, it is still impossible to say for sure.
John Cassidy DOT.CON (2001)
Sure enough, my son and the book disappeared upstairs.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
To be sure, certain dark dreams resemble scenes from his works.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
In other languages
sure
British English: sure /ʃʊə; ʃɔː/ ADJECTIVE
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.
American English: sure
Arabic: مُتَأَكِد
Brazilian Portuguese: certo
Chinese: 确定的
Croatian: siguran
Czech: jistý
Danish: sikker
Dutch: zeker
European Spanish: seguro convencido
Finnish: varma
French: sûr
German: sicher
Greek: βέβαιος
Italian: sicuro
Japanese: 確信して
Korean: 확실한
Norwegian: sikker
Polish: pewny ufny
European Portuguese: certo
Romanian: sigur
Russian: уверенный
Latin American Spanish: seguro cierto, indubitable
Swedish: säker bestämd
Thai: แน่ใจ
Turkish: emin
Ukrainian: впевнений
Vietnamese: chắc chắn
All related terms of 'sure'
sure!
( inf : of course ) 当(當)然了! dāngrán le!
sure enough
果然 guǒrán
that's for sure
毫无(無)疑问(問) háo wú yíwèn
I'm sure of it
我确(確)信 wǒ quèxìn
she sure is pretty
( esp US : inf ) 她确(確)实(實)很漂亮 tā quèshí hěn piàoliang
to be sure of o.s.
有自信心 yǒu zìxìnxīn
to make sure that ...
( take action ) 保证(證) ... bǎozhèng ... ⇒ Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully. → 你一定要仔细按照说明书做。 Nǐ yīdìng yào zǐxì ànzhào shuōmíngshū zuò. ⇒ You must make sure that you finish your work on time. → 你必须保证按时完成工作。 Nǐ bìxū bǎozhèng ànshí wánchéng gōngzuò. ( check ) → 查明 ... chámíng ... ⇒ He looked in the bathroom to make sure that he was alone. → 他看了看洗澡间,确定是否只有他一个人。 Tā kànle kàn xǐzǎojiān, quèdìng shìfǒu zhǐyǒu tā yī gè rén.
to be sure to do sth
( certain ) 肯定做某事 kěndìng zuò mǒushì ⇒ Kids are sure to love crawling through the tunnel. → 孩子们肯定喜欢爬隧道。 Háizimen kěndìng xǐhuan pá suìdào.