ensure

verb

en·​sure in-ˈshu̇r How to pronounce ensure (audio)
ensured; ensuring

transitive verb

: to make sure, certain, or safe : guarantee

Did you know?

Do you ensure or insure?

There is considerable confusion about whether ensure and insure are distinct words, variants of the same word, or some combination of the two. They are in fact different words, but with sufficient overlap in meaning and form as to create uncertainty as to which should be used when. We define ensure as “to make sure, certain, or safe” and one sense of insure, “to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions,” is quite similar. But insure has the additional meaning “to provide or obtain insurance on or for,” which is not shared by ensure. Some usage guides recommend using insure in financial contexts (as in “she insured her book collection for a million dollars”) and ensure in the general sense “to make certain” (as in “she ensured that the book collection was packed well”).

Choose the Right Synonym for ensure

ensure, insure, assure, secure mean to make a thing or person sure.

ensure, insure, and assure are interchangeable in many contexts where they indicate the making certain or inevitable of an outcome, but ensure may imply a virtual guarantee

the government has ensured the safety of the refugees

, while insure sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand

careful planning should insure the success of the party

, and assure distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind.

I assure you that no harm will be done

secure implies action taken to guard against attack or loss.

sent reinforcements to secure their position

Examples of ensure in a Sentence

A combination of … personal courage, dashing leadership from the front, willingness to share the toughest rigours suffered by the ordinary soldiers, and a liberal dose of sheer good fortune ensured his stature as a great general. Paul Cartledge, History Today, July 2004
Indeed, even though she's been off the mainstream radar for more than a decade, her passionate love for and commitment to rock & roll have ensured that she's managed to make a steady living. Tom Sinclair, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Nov. 2000
At 20, [Kobe] Bryant is already living the modern American dream, a $70 million man on the NBA's glamour team in the nation's starriest city. His acrobatic moves make him the envy of teenage boys and his good looks and megawatt smile a heartthrob for teenage girls, ensuring his status as one of the NBA's premier pitchmen … Allison Samuels et al., Newsweek, 31 May 1999
They took steps to ensure the safety of the passengers. regulations that ensure the wholesomeness of our food
Recent Examples on the Web And those countries who share borders with Russia almost universally share the view that the only way to ensure Russia doesn’t expand its aggression is by making NATO so strong an attack would be unthinkable, even to President Vladimir Putin. Luke McGee, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 Ably assisted by some friends — a maverick Scotland Yard detective and a female journalist determined to make a name for herself — Veronica and Stoker take death-defying risks in their quest to ensure the dead woman’s murderer is brought to justice. Karen MacPherson, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 The new rules, based around tailpipe emission standards, are intended to ensure that within eight years, the majority of consumer vehicles sold are either all-electric or gas-electric hybrids. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Here's how rattlesnake bites are treated: Stabilization: This may involve ensuring an open airway, supporting breathing if necessary and administering fluids to maintain hydration and blood pressure. The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 Supporters say the goal is to ensure that AI tools cannot replicate an artist’s voice without their consent. Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 Disinfect Everything Due to the number of people passing through and touching everything, airports and airplanes are some of the germiest places around (though in the post-pandemic world, many airlines are taking additional steps to ensure your safety). Eric Rosen, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 The compacts ensure agencies share resources in the event of a large emergency and the cancellations have left some residents uneasy. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 It is also equipped with four stabilizer fins that ensure comfort on the waves. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ensure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French ensurer, alteration of assurer — more at assure

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ensure was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near ensure

Cite this Entry

“Ensure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensure. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ensure

verb
en·​sure in-ˈshu̇(ə)r How to pronounce ensure (audio)
ensured; ensuring
: to make sure, certain, or safe : guarantee

More from Merriam-Webster on ensure

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