sure

Examples

• All

• How are you so sure that it was he?

• Yeah, but I am not sure which book it was in.

  Robinson Erhardt

• - But how can you be sure it was him?

  Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D (2014)

• Is it our responsibility to make sure that all students have a musical experience in school?

  Academic text (2015)

• But first, it makes good business sense to make sure you know what you want.

  Academic text (2012)

• - Are you sure of that, Chris?

  Stagecoach (1939)

• How will you get others involved and make sure they have ownership in the process?

  Academic text (2013)

• Are you sure this is the right moment, Mr Newton?

  The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

• When choosing a college, I wanted to make sure it was going to be fun.

  Academic text (2011)

• She is sure that she passed the test after studying hard.

Synonyms

C

certain

vssure

840 1.0

Feeling sure and having no doubt

is more everyday and less formal in tone

C

confident

vssure

715 2.5

Feeling sure about yourself or what will happen

focuses on lack of hesitation rather than on personal boldness

C

convinced

vssure

466 2.8

Feeling sure that something is true

is the simple lack of mental hesitation rather than a belief formed by persuasion

C

certain of

vssure

49 2.7

Sure that something is true or will happen

is a general mental state not tied to a single fact

N

never in doubt

vssure

1 6.8

Being completely sure about something even when you are wrong

is being without hesitation not a claim about justification

A

assured

vssure

4.1

Confident and steady in voice or movement

is simply being without hesitation not a calm style

A

absotively sure

vssure

• Informal

9.8

Completely certain that something is true

is the neutral expression of lacking hesitation rather than playful emphasis

P

posilutely certain

vssure

• Informal

9.0

Completely sure in a strong, playful way

is the plain way to state lack of hesitation not an emphatic joke

P

positutely sure

vssure

• Informal

9.8

Completely certain that something is true

is used in ordinary speech to state lack of hesitation without play

Antonyms

I

insecure

131 3.4

Not confident about yourself or your skills

U

unsure

89 1.5

Not confident or certain about what to do

D

doubtful

25 3.0

Not sure about something and not ready to believe it

Idioms

F

for sure

• Informal

700 2.0

Without any doubt

T

to be sure

104 4.9

Admitting something is true before you say something else

S

sure enough

58 2.7

Shows that something happens exactly as expected

S

sure as shit

• Offensive

5 9.9

You can be certain it is true

S

sure as shooting

• Informal

1 8.2

Completely certain that something will happen

S

sure as sugar

• Informal

1 8.8

Certain to happen without any doubt

A

absotively sure

• Informal

9.8

Completely certain that something is true

S

sure as eggs

• Archaic

9.9

Says that something will definitely happen or is true

S

sure as the world

• Informal

9.1

Certain to happen

Compounds

S

sure thing

77 2.4

Something that is certain to happen or succeed

S

sure-fire

8 4.4

Certain to work and bring success

S

sure-enough

• Informal

1 8.1

Clearly real and not fake to show you really mean it

P

positutely sure

• Informal

9.8

Completely certain that something is true

S

Sure Start Maternity Grant

• UK

5.8

A one-time payment from the UK government to help with baby costs for parents who meet certain rules

How Confident

sure

∞ 1.0

confident

715 2.5

unsure

89 1.5

Surface Forms

Etymology