make certain

idiom

: to do something or find out something so that one has no doubt about whether something is true, correct, will happen, etc.
Make certain (that) you lock the door when you leave.
We must make certain this doesn't happen again.
She made certain she thanked each of them for coming.

Examples of make certain in a Sentence

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.
This cornbread is tender thanks to buttermilk and melted butter—just make certain to buy cornmeal that is certified as gluten-free. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025 These additions can make certain pretzel products closer to a dessert than a simple snack. Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 30 Dec. 2025 The lower costs offered through TrumpRx may still not make certain drugs more affordable for all, Dusetzina said. Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025 By removing maintenance-heavy internal combustion systems and replacing them with electric drivetrains, Everrati aims to make certain classics viable daily drivers again, particularly in regions where clean-air zones and emissions restrictions increasingly limit access. Paul Ratner, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for make certain

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Make certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20certain. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!