insure

in·sure

verb \in-ˈshu̇r\

in·suredin·sur·ing

Definition of INSURE

transitive verb

1

: to provide or obtain insurance on or for

2

: to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions

intransitive verb

: to contract to give or take insurance

Examples of INSURE

1. We insured our house against fire and flood damage.
2. I found a company that will insure my car for less than I've been paying.
3. This policy will insure your car against theft.
4. She had difficulty finding a company that would insure her.
5. They take great care to insure the safety and security of their home.
6. We hope that careful planning will insure success.
7. He found the language not obscene … but did find it intentionally disruptive, and held that school officials had the right to insure that a high-school assembly proceed in an orderly manner, without hoots and howls and all that snickering. —William Safire, New York Times Magazine, 24 Aug. 1986
8. … his sudden fame probably insured a backlash. —Calvin Tomkins, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 1982
9. The fact that by supplying his uncle with an amusing mistress he would insure against any awkward second marriage was merely a fortunate coincidence. —Mollie Hardwick, Emma, Lady Hamilton, 1969

Origin of INSURE

Middle English, to assure, probably alteration of assuren

First Known Use: 1635

Related to INSURE

Synonyms

assure, cinch, guarantee, guaranty, ice, ensure, secure

Related Words

attest, certify, vouch, warrant, witness; pledge, promise, swear

Near Antonyms

enfeeble, undermine, weaken

See Synonym Discussion at ensure

Rhymes with INSURE

abjure, adjure, Adour, allure, amour, Ashur, assure, brochure, ceinture, cocksure, coiffure, conjure, contour, couture, demure, detour, dirt-poor, endure, ensure, faubourg, for sure, Fraktur, grandeur, gravure, guipure, hachure, immure, impure, inure, kultur, land-poor, langur, ligure, manure, mature, mohur, obscure, parure, perdure, procure, rondure, secure, siddur, tambour, tandoor, tenure, Uighur, unmoor, velour, velure