assure

verb

as·​sure ə-ˈshu̇r How to pronounce assure (audio)
assured; assuring

transitive verb

1
: to make sure or certain : convince
glancing back to assure himself no one was following
2
: to inform positively
I assure you that we can do it.
3
: to make certain the coming or attainment of : guarantee
worked hard to assure accuracy
4
: to make safe (as from risks or against overthrow) : insure
assured the security of the country
5
: to give confidence to
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts …1 John 3:19 (King James Version)
Choose the Right Synonym for assure

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 assure in a Sentence

I can assure you that you won't be disappointed. a minister choosing just the right words to assure the grieving parents of the fallen soldier
Recent Examples on the Web The 25-year-old from Belarus already was assured of rising from No. 2 to No. 1 in the WTA rankings for the first time next week. CBS News, 9 Sep. 2023 Rest assured the Runnin’ Rebels are still going strong and ran for 283 yards last week against Bryant. Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2023 While TriMet assured the public that the drugs pose no health risk to riders on board for only a short while, the effects of long-term exposure on transit operators — who daily ride buses and trains for hours on end — are still unclear. oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023 Dixon’s candidacy seemed all but assured for months ahead of her Thursday announcement. Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2023 Rest assured that the views of the McDowell Mountains and Phoenix are well worth the effort. Jeff Ficker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023 At the time, co-host Joy Behar, 80, assured viewers that Goldberg was doing well and would return soon. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023 In a world in which humans have figured out how to split the atom, can’t studios, writers and actors figure out a way to avoid a path to mutually assured destruction? Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2023 That was said just two days after Freeze assured reporters that Thorne was going to be Auburn’s starter, barring any injuries. Ainslie Lee | Alee@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assure.' 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 asseurer, assurer, from Medieval Latin assecurare, from Latin ad- + securus secure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of assure was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Assure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assure. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

assure

verb
as·​sure ə-ˈshu̇(ə)r How to pronounce assure (audio)
assured; assuring
1
: to provide a guarantee of
assure security
2
: to give words of comfort or confidence to : reassure
tried to assure the worried children
3
: to cause to be sure or certain
assure himself that the door was locked
4
: to inform positively
can assure you of her dependability

Legal Definition

assure

transitive verb
as·​sure
assured; assuring
1
chiefly British : insure
2
a
: to inform positively
the seller assured the buyer of his honesty
b
: to provide a guarantee of

More from Merriam-Webster on assure

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