secure

adjective

se·cure | \ si-ˈkyu̇r

, -ˈkyər\

securer; securest

Definition of secure

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a archaic : unwisely free from fear or distrust : overconfident

b : easy in mind : confident

c : assured in opinion or expectation : having no doubt

2a : free from danger

b : free from risk of loss

c : affording safety a secure hideaway

d : trustworthy, dependable a secure foundation

3 : assured sense 1 a secure victory

secure

verb

secured; securing

Definition of secure (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to relieve from exposure to danger : act to make safe against adverse contingencies secure a supply line from enemy raids

b : to put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving : guarantee secure the blessings of liberty — U.S. Constitution

c : to give pledge of payment to (a creditor) or of (an obligation) secure a note by a pledge of collateral

2a : to take (a person) into custody : hold fast : pinion

b : to make fast secure a door secure a bike to a tree

3a : to get secure usually lasting possession or control of secure a job

b : bring about, effect

4 : to release (naval personnel) from work or duty

intransitive verb

1 of naval personnel : to stop work : go off duty

2 of a ship : to tie up : berth

Other Words from secure Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about secure

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Choose the Right Synonym for secure

Verb

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 secure in a Sentence

Adjective

We need to make our network more secure against attacks by hackers. The children were safe and secure in their beds. A safe is provided to keep your valuables secure from potential thieves. You should store your valuables in a secure place. How secure is your front door? You are now entering a secure area. I'm feeling secure about my place in the company. The company has established a secure foothold in the market. He believes his job is secure. They didn't begin to celebrate until they knew their victory was secure.

Verb

We must secure the country's borders. Secure your belongings under the seat. secure a child safety seat The seat is secured to the base by three screws. She scored a goal to secure the team's victory. She secured the zoo's future with a handsome bequest. He secured a loan using his house as collateral.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

While super-heavy books or objects might not be the most secure on such shelves, all the lightweight paperwork, sketches, and blueprints work just fine. — Kaitlin Menza, House Beautiful, "The Walls of This Home Office Are Devilishly Functional," 31 Jan. 2019 However, taking a course at a driving school that goes beyond parallel parking basics is a great way to feel more secure with your skills. — Seventeen Editors, Seventeen, "7 Driving Tips For Teens That'll Seriously Help You Become a Pro On The Road," 14 Dec. 2018 Terror experts have been quick to point out that two of the 9/11 hijackers arrived into Boston from Portland, Maine, in part because the smaller Portland Airport was considered less secure due to its size. — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, "TSA Suggests Ditching Passenger Screening at U.S. Airports," 1 Aug. 2018 Retail sales jumped a strong 0.8 percent in May in a sign that consumers feel secure enough to spend. — Josh Boak, chicagotribune.com, "U.S. added 213,000 jobs in June; unemployment rose to 4 percent," 6 July 2018 Board member Cathy Piehl said Illinois public schools should provide safe and secure environments for all students and staff that minimize physical and psychological risk. — Suzanne Baker, Naperville Sun, "Local schools should decide if drills are appropriate, District 204 board says," 19 June 2018 The policy calls for providing a safe and secure environment up in orbit, as satellite traffic increases. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Trump announces plans for a new military branch: 'Space Force'," 19 June 2018 Even that debate started, like all those Hollywood narratives, around a faulty assumption that police are essential to safe and secure communities. — Mychal Denzel Smith, The New Republic, "How America became over-policed," 5 June 2018 The bottom line is that Social Security needs to continue to do the job it was designed to do: provide a base income on which people can build for a secure retirement. — Alicia H. Munnell, WSJ, "Four Simple Changes to Bring Social Security Into the 21st Century," 16 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Working around stem, hot-glue one end of each husk strip to top of pumpkin; use straight pins to secure as needed. — Woman's Day Staff, Woman's Day, "50+ Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas for Halloween," 25 July 2018 Once the tips are secured to the nail with gel and cured for a few seconds, gel polish can be added right on top. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Ariana Grande's Nails May Look Like Acrylics, But They're Actually Gel Extensions," 24 July 2018 Both men were tied to the case against Buncich, with Downs soliciting and collecting bribes, and Szarmach paying the former sheriff money to secure and expand his towing territory. — Craig Lyons, Post-Tribune, "Co-defendants of former Sheriff Buncich get probation for roles in bribery scheme," 9 July 2018 Tourism has since partially bounced back after Tunisia’s government implemented a series of measures aimed at securing popular destinations in the country. — Bouazza Ben Bouazza, The Seattle Times, "17 on trial in deadly Tunisian beach attack on UK tourists," 29 Jan. 2019 The lawsuit threatens to weaken the patents that have secured the key innovations of the modern tech age. — Adam Mossoff, WSJ, "The FTC Joins Huawei on a Misguided Troll Hunt," 27 Jan. 2019 Veterans hospitals and benefits The Department of Veterans Affairs has already secured its funding, so veterans hospitals will maintain their routine operations. — Li Zhou, Vox, "What’s open — and closed — during a partial government shutdown," 21 Dec. 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has partnered with FaZe Clan and secured his own merchandising line, and went on the international European road trip, called Gumball 3000. — Julia Alexander, The Verge, "FaZe Clan welcomes ‘FaZe Boat’," 18 Dec. 2018 Most professional remodeling jobs require a building permit, which must be secured before the work starts. — Brett Martin, House Beautiful, "How Long It Takes To Renovate Every Single Room In Your House," 26 Dec. 2018

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

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Last Updated

16 Feb 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for secure

The first known use of secure was circa 1545

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More Definitions for secure

secure

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of secure

(Entry 1 of 2)

: protected from danger or harm

: providing protection from danger or harm

: guarded so that no one can enter or leave without approval

secure

verb

English Language Learners Definition of secure (Entry 2 of 2)

somewhat formal

: to make (something) safe by guarding or protecting it

: to put (something) in a place or position so that it will not move

: to make (something) certain

See the full definition for secure in the English Language Learners Dictionary

secure

adjective

se·cure | \ si-ˈkyu̇r

securer; securest

Kids Definition of secure

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : free from danger or risk Being home made me feel secure.

2 : strong or firm enough to ensure safety a secure lock

3 : free from worry or doubt : confident He's secure in his abilities.

4 : sure entry 1 sense 5, certain Victory is secure.

secure

verb

secured; securing

Kids Definition of secure (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to make safe Police secured the building.

2 : to fasten or put something in a place to keep it from coming loose Secure your belongings under the seat.

3 : to get hold of : acquire … “Your father has finally secured passage for us …”— Theodore Taylor, The Cay

secure

transitive verb

se·cure

secured; securing

Legal Definition of secure

1 : to put beyond hazard of losing or not receiving secure the blessings of liberty — U.S. Constitution preamble

2a : to protect or make certain (as by lien) make a just and equitable partition and secure the parties' respective interests — Denton v. Lazenby, 879 P.2d 607 (1994)

b : to give security for (as a loan) or otherwise assure the payment, performance, or execution of with security the court imposed a lien on his property to secure the judgment

c : to give or pledge security to (as a creditor) broadly : to cause to have security or a security interest a creditor secured by a lien on real property