sure

1 of 2

adjective

ˈshu̇r 

ˈshər,

 especially Southern  ˈshȯr

surer; surest

1

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

2

: admitting of no doubt : indisputable

spoke from sure knowledge

3

a

: bound, destined

is sure to win

b

: bound to happen : inevitable

sure disaster

4

: careful to remember, attend to, or find out something

be sure to lock the door

5

: firmly established : steadfast

a sure hold

6

: reliable, trustworthy

a sure friend

7

obsolete : safe from danger or harm

sureness noun

sure

2 of 2

adverb

: surely

Sure vs. Surely: Usage Guide

Most commentators consider the adverb sure to be something less than completely standard; surely is usually recommended as a substitute. Our current evidence shows, however, that sure and surely have become differentiated in use. Sure is used in much more informal contexts than surely. It is used as a simple intensive

I can never know how much I bored her, but, be certain, she sure amused me

—Norman Mailer

and, because it connotes strong affirmation, it is used when the speaker or writer expects to be agreed with.

it's a moot point whether politicians are less venal than in Twain's day. But they're sure as the devil more intrusive

—Alan Abelson

he sure gets them to play

—D. S. Looney

Surely, like sure, is used as a simple intensive

I surely don't want to leave the impression that I had an unhappy childhood

—E. C. Welsh

but it occurs in more formal contexts than sure. Unlike sure it may be used neutrally—the reader or hearer may or may not agree

it would surely be possible, within a few years, to program a computer to construct a grammar

—Noam Chomsky

and it is often used when the writer is trying to persuade.

surely a book on the avant-garde cannot be so conventional

—Karl Shapiro

Phrases

for sure

: without doubt or question : certainly

to be sure

: it must be acknowledged : admittedly

Synonyms

Adjective

• assured
• certain
• clear
• cocksure
• confident
• doubtless
• implicit
• positive
• sanguine

Adverb

• all right
• alright
• assuredly
• certainly
• clearly
• definitely
• doubtless
• easily
• forsooth
• hands down
• inarguably
• incontestably
• incontrovertibly
• indeed
• indisputably
• plainly
• really
• so
• surely
• truly
• unarguably
• undeniably
• undoubtedly
• unquestionably

Choose the Right Synonym for sure

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

Examples of sure in a Sentence

Adjective

She's not sure who will be there.

Are you sure you want to go?

Are you sure about that?

She'll be there, I'm sure of it.

Are you sure of the results?

The return of the robins is a sure sign of spring.

The letter is a sure indication that she cares.

Pizza is a sure crowd pleaser.

The surest way to lose weight is with diet and exercise.

One sure way to improve your health is to stop smoking.

Adverb

we sure could use your help here

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Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Here’s a roundup of where each couple landed as viewers prepare for what’s sure to be a shocking Tell-All next week. —Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023

Republicans are a lot more sure of Trump's chances of finishing another term than Democrats are of Mr. Biden's. Qualities that meet the moment? —Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2023

Yeah, and energizing his supporters, that's for sure. —Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023

That’s already me, but had to be on top of it for sure this week. —Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2023

With gorgeous pleats and a cape effect, here’s one look that’s sure to win you best dressed. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2023

There was the pandemic, sure, but also a related microchip shortage that bit hard because vehicles now require more computing components; a commodity squeeze influenced by war in Ukraine; inflation; and interest rate hikes. —WIRED, 15 Sep. 2023

So good flooring, for sure, something that will last you the test of time. —Gina Mayfield, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023

Friday mornings arrive with an anticipation of the weekend to come, sure, but also with a brief, loud punctuation that, without fail, fills me with terror. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023

Adverb

Aromatherapy diffuser Takeout meals from the dining hall and dirty laundry sure can stink up a tiny dorm room. —Lisa Lombardi, wsj.com, 15 Sep. 2023

These sure don’t look like a septuagenarian’s earlobes: zero droop, no unsightly hair. —Jay Katsir, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023

Yet he sure was dealt a bad hand in the game of baseball opportunities. —Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023

Bottom line: This 14th Amendment gambit sure looks like a way to short-circuit GOP voters — and then general-election voters — from having a say if Trump gets another shot at winning the White House. —Chuck Todd, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2023

From Keke Palmer to Ariana Grande, see which former child stars are celebrating the big 3-0 this year Time sure does fly! —Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2023

But sure, DeSantis will be second in terms of that. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2023

Though, whether Mike Trout would for sure be returning to the team for Tuesday’s game with the Reds, Nevin would not guarantee. —Sarah Valenzuela, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2023

And sure, that’s all pretty tame compared to the shots of Styles’s Tokyo makeout sesh with Emily Ratajkowski in March. —Vulture, 11 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sure

• be sure
• (as) sure as I'm standing here
• a good/safe/sure bet
• for sure
• make sure
• sure-footed
• sure bet
• a sure thing
• one thing is (for) sure
• sure thing
• good/safe/sure bet
• sure as hell
• sure of oneself
• sure-handed
• sure enough
• to be sure
• yeah, sure

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• be sure
• (as) sure as I'm standing here
• a good/safe/sure bet
• for sure
• make sure
• sure-footed
• sure bet
• a sure thing
• one thing is (for) sure
• sure thing
• good/safe/sure bet
• sure as hell
• sure of oneself
• sure-handed
• sure enough
• to be sure
• yeah, sure

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Kids Definition

sure

1 of 2 adjective

ˈshu̇(ə)r 

 especially Southern  ˈshō(ə)r

1

: firmly established : steadfast

a sure hold

2

: reliable, trustworthy

a sure friend

3

: having no doubt : confident

I'm sure I'm right

4

: not to be doubted : certain

sure evidence

5

a

: bound to happen : inevitable

sure disaster

b

: bound as if by fate

we are sure to win

sureness noun

sure

2 of 2 adverb

1

: surely sense 1b

2

: surely sense 2

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English seur, sure "safe from danger or harm," from early French seur (same meaning), from securus "secure" — related to secure