ensure

verb

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en·sure | \ in-ˈshu̇r

ensured; ensuring

Definition of ensure

transitive verb

: to make sure, certain, or safe : guarantee

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Do you ensure or insure? Example Sentences Learn More about ensure

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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

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”).

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 Our goal is still to ensure that everybody will be vaccinated. — Julia Hollingsworth And Chandler Thornton, CNN, "Philippines orders more than 25 million people into lockdown over Easter as Covid-19 cases soar," 28 Mar. 2021 Now, restaurant and bar owners will have to decide for themselves what measures to take to ensure the safety of their staffs and customers. — Lauren Saria, The Arizona Republic, "'Heard it before': Why some Arizona restaurant, bar owners won't resume business as usual," 26 Mar. 2021 Some have argued that such markets create perverse incentives by encouraging people to take actions to ensure their bets come to fruition. — Max Raskin, WSJ, "You Can Bet on the Vaccine, Literally," 25 Mar. 2021 The board should take all possible measures to ensure that no additional burden falls on taxpayers. — Atavia Gibson, chicagotribune.com, "6 Deerfield Park District Board candidates running for 3 spots. Here’s where they stand on the issues.," 23 Mar. 2021 One reason doctors recommend so much follow-up is to ensure that the child’s symptoms did in fact stem from an initial COVID-19 infection rather than another cause. — Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star, "Doctors thought the teen had appendicitis. Instead, he had a rare COVID complication.," 22 Mar. 2021 The goal is to ensure everyone who got their first injection is able to be fully vaccinated before the sites are scheduled to close on April 28, according to Andrea Schuch, state spokeswoman for the Orlando site. — Lisa Maria Garza, orlandosentinel.com, "Florida vaccine eligibility: Age drops today to 50 and up statewide, 40 and up at Orange County Convention Center," 22 Mar. 2021 Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said in the waiver that the delay was necessary to ensure a smooth transition. — BostonGlobe.com, "Boston seeking delay on full-time in-person learning," 22 Mar. 2021 Their goal was to ensure the property remained a testament to the past, while still including modern design touches. — Lindsay Tigar, Travel + Leisure, "11 Female-owned Hotels Around the World With Amazing Stories," 20 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ensure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.