First Known Use: 1635
Dictionary
insure
verb in·sure \in-ˈshu̇r\
: to buy insurance for (something, such as property or health)
: to provide insurance for (something, such as property or health); also : to provide (someone) with insurance
: to make (something) sure, certain, or safe
in·suredin·sur·ing
Full Definition of INSURE
transitive verb
1
: to provide or obtain insurance on or for
2
: to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions
intransitive verb
: to contract to give or take insurance
See insure defined for English-language learners
See insure defined for kids
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Examples of INSURE
- He found the language not obscene … but did find it intentionally disruptive, and held that school officials had the right to insure that a high-school assembly proceed in an orderly manner, without hoots and howls and all that snickering. —William Safire, New York Times Magazine, 24 Aug. 1986
- … his sudden fame probably insured a backlash. —Calvin Tomkins, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 1982
- The fact that by supplying his uncle with an amusing mistress he would insure against any awkward second marriage was merely a fortunate coincidence. —Mollie Hardwick, Emma, Lady Hamilton, 1969
- [+]more
Origin of INSURE
Middle English, to assure, probably alteration of assuren
Synonym Discussion of INSURE
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>.
Rhymes with INSURE
abjure, adjure, Adour, allure, amour, Ashur, assure, brochure, ceinture, cocksure, coiffure, conjure, contour, couture, demure, detour, dirt-poor, endure, ensure, faubourg, for sure, Fraktur, grandeur, gravure, guipure, hachure, immure, impure, inure, kultur, land-poor, langur, ligure, manure, mature, mohur, obscure, parure, perdure, procure, rondure, secure, siddur, tambour, tandoor, tenure, Uighur, unmoor, velour, velure
INSURE Defined for Kids
insure
verb in·sure \in-ˈshu̇r\
in·suredin·sur·ing
Definition of INSURE for Kids
1
: to give or get insurance on or for <I insured my car.>
2
: to make certain <I want to insure your safety.>
— in·sur·er noun
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