ensure
verb OPAL W
/ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/, /ɪnˈʃɔː(r)/
/ɪnˈʃʊr/
(also insure especially in North American English)
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they ensure | /ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/, /ɪnˈʃɔː(r)/ /ɪnˈʃʊr/ |
| he / she / it ensures | /ɪnˈʃʊəz/, /ɪnˈʃɔːz/ /ɪnˈʃʊrz/ |
| past simple ensured | /ɪnˈʃʊəd/, /ɪnˈʃɔːd/ /ɪnˈʃʊrd/ |
| past participle ensured | /ɪnˈʃʊəd/, /ɪnˈʃɔːd/ /ɪnˈʃʊrd/ |
| -ing form ensuring | /ɪnˈʃʊərɪŋ/, /ɪnˈʃɔːrɪŋ/ /ɪnˈʃʊrɪŋ/ |
- to make sure that something happens or is definite
- ensure something We are working to ensure the safety of people in the city.
- The book ensured his success.
- We must take steps now to ensure the survival of these animals.
- ensure somebody something Victory ensured them a place in the final.
- The system ensures all children equal access to education.
- ensure something for somebody The system ensures equal access to education for all children.
- ensure (that)… The government needs to ensure (that) workers' rights are respected.
- Rent rises were limited in order to ensure that housing remained affordable.
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2- Forces were brought in to ensure security for tourists.
- Please ensure (that) all lights are switched off.
- The system not only ensures maximum discounts, but also helps the company track usage.
- provisions designed to ensure safe conditions of work
- The therapist must treat the cause of the problem, thereby ensuring the symptoms do not return.
- The alternative simply ensures that the problem will get worse.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- practically
- virtually
- effectively
- …
- must
- aim to
- try to
- …
- an attempt to ensure something
- efforts to ensure something
- measures to ensure something
- …
Word Originlate Middle English (in the senses ‘convince’ and ‘make safe’): from Anglo-Norman French enseurer, alteration of Old French aseurer, earlier form of assurer, based on Latin ad- ‘to’ (expressing change) + securus, from se- ‘without’ + cura ‘care’. Compare with insure.