Main Entry: ¹sure

Pronunciation: \ˈshu̇r, especially Southern ˈshȯr\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): sur·er; sur·est

Etymology: Middle English seur, sure, from Anglo-French seur, from Latin securus secure

Date: 13th century

1 obsolete : safe from danger or harm
2 : firmly established : steadfast <a sure hold>
3 : reliable, trustworthy <a sure friend>
4 a : marked by or given to feelings of confident certainty <I'm sure I'm right> b : characterized by a lack of wavering or hesitation <sure brush strokes> <a sure hand>
5 : admitting of no doubt : indisputable <spoke from sure knowledge>
6 a : bound to happen : inevitable <sure disaster> b : bound, destined <is sure to win>
7 : careful to remember, attend to, or find out something <be sure to lock the door>

— sure·ness noun

— for sure : without doubt or question : certainly

— to be sure : it must be acknowledged : admittedly

synonyms sure, certain, positive, cocksure mean having no doubt or uncertainty. sure usually stresses the subjective or intuitive feeling of assurance <felt sure that I had forgotten something>. certain may apply to a basing of a conclusion or conviction on definite grounds or indubitable evidence <police are certain about the cause of the fire>. positive intensifies sureness or certainty and may imply opinionated conviction or forceful expression of it <I'm positive that's the person I saw>. cocksure implies presumptuous or careless positiveness <you're always so cocksure about everything>.