surefire

adjective

sure·​fire ˈshu̇r-ˈfī(-ə)r How to pronounce surefire (audio)
ˈshər-
Synonyms of surefirenext
: certain to get successful or expected results
a surefire recipe

Examples of surefire in a Sentence

The movie is a surefire hit with teenagers. There is no surefire way to predict the outcome.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
McCoy went from surefire first-rounder to the first pick of the fourth round because of concerns over a possible degenerative knee condition. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Downs was a surefire player coming out of high school. Jon MacHota, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2026 There’s no shortcut or surefire way to become the perfect candidate for the Forbes Under 30 list. Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2026 There aren’t a ton of surefire options in this class, but there are a ton of interesting ones. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surefire

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surefire was in 1846

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surefire. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

surefire

adjective
sure·​fire ˌshu̇r-ˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce surefire (audio)
: certain to get results
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