to be sure
adjective
1.
free from doubt as to the reliability, character, action, etc., of something: to be sure of one's data.
2.
confident, as of something expected: sure of success.
3.
convinced, fully persuaded, or positive: to be sure of a person's guilt.
4.
assured or certain beyond question: a sure victory.
5.
worthy of confidence; reliable; stable: a sure messenger.
6.
unfailing; never disappointing expectations: a sure cure.
7.
unerring; never missing, slipping, etc.: a sure aim.
8.
admitting of no doubt or question: sure proof.
9.
destined; bound inevitably; certain: sure death.
10.
Obsolete. secure; safe.
11.
be sure, to take care (to be or do as specified); be certain: Be sure to close the windows.
adverb
12.
00:10
To be sure
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
13.
for sure, as a certainty; surely: It's going to be a good day, for sure.
14.
make sure, to be or become absolutely certain: I'm calling to make sure that you remember to come.
15.
sure enough, Informal. as might have been supposed; actually; certainly: Sure enough, the picnic was rained out.
16.
to be sure,
a.
without doubt; surely; certainly.
b.
admittedly: She sings well, to be sure, but she can't act.
Related forms
sure·ness, noun
o·ver·sure, adjective
o·ver·sure·ly, adverb
o·ver·sure·ness, noun
un·sure, adjective
Synonyms
1. Sure, certain, confident, positive indicate full belief and trust that something is true. Sure, certain and positive are often used interchangeably. Sure the simplest and most general, expresses mere absence of doubt. Certain suggests that there are definite reasons that have freed one from doubt. Confident emphasizes the strength of the belief or the certainty of expectation felt. Positive implies emphatic certainty, which may even become overconfidence or dogmatism.
1. Sure, certain, confident, positive indicate full belief and trust that something is true. Sure, certain and positive are often used interchangeably. Sure the simplest and most general, expresses mere absence of doubt. Certain suggests that there are definite reasons that have freed one from doubt. Confident emphasizes the strength of the belief or the certainty of expectation felt. Positive implies emphatic certainty, which may even become overconfidence or dogmatism.
Usage note
Both sure and surely are used as intensifying adverbs with the sense “undoubtedly, certainly.” In this use, sure is generally informal and occurs mainly in speech and written representations of speech: She sure dazzled the audience with her acceptance speech. It was sure hot enough in the auditorium. Surely is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing, even the most formal: The court ruled that the law was surely meant to apply to both profit-making and nonprofit organizations. See also quick, slow.
Both sure and surely are used as intensifying adverbs with the sense “undoubtedly, certainly.” In this use, sure is generally informal and occurs mainly in speech and written representations of speech: She sure dazzled the audience with her acceptance speech. It was sure hot enough in the auditorium. Surely is used in this sense in all varieties of speech and writing, even the most formal: The court ruled that the law was surely meant to apply to both profit-making and nonprofit organizations. See also quick, slow.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
sure (ʃʊə, ʃɔː) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | ( |
| 2. | ( |
| 3. | always effective; unfailing: a sure remedy |
| 4. | reliable in indication or accuracy: a sure criterion |
| 5. | (of persons) worthy of trust or confidence: a sure friend |
| 6. | not open to doubt: sure proof |
| 7. | admitting of no vacillation or doubt: he is very sure in his beliefs |
| 8. | bound to be or occur; inevitable: victory is sure |
| 9. | (postpositive) bound inevitably (to be or do something); certain: she is sure to be there tonight |
| 10. | physically secure or dependable: a sure footing |
| 11. | obsolete free from exposure to harm or danger |
| 12. | (usually imperative or dependent imperative; takes a clause as object or an infinitive, |
| 13. | for sure without a doubt; surely |
| 14. | make sure |
| a. (takes a clause as object) to make certain; ensure | |
| b. ( | |
| 15. | informal sure enough as might have been confidently expected; definitely: often used as a sentence substitute |
| 16. | to be sure |
| a. without doubt; certainly | |
| b. it has to be acknowledged; admittedly | |
| —adv | |
| 17. | informal (sentence substitute) willingly; yes |
| 18. | informal chiefly (US), (Canadian) (sentence modifier) without question; certainly |
| [C14: from Old French seur, from Latin sēcūrus | |
| 'sureness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sure
c.1300, "safe, secure," later "mentally certain" (mid-15c.), from O.Fr. sur, seur "safe, secure," from L. securus "free from care, untroubled, heedless, safe" (see secure). Pronunciation development followed that of sugar. As an affirmative meaning
"yes, certainly" it dates from 1803, from M.E. meanings "firmly established, having no doubt," and phrases like to be sure (1650s), sure enough (1540s), and for sure (1580s). The use as a qualifier meaning "assuredly" goes back to early 15c. Sure-footed is from 1630s; sure-fire first attested 1901; sure thing dates from 1836. In 16c.-17c., Suresby was an appellation for a person to be depended upon.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
to be sure
Undoubtedly, certainly, of course, as in The coat is expensive, to be sure, but it's bound to last longer than a cheap one. This idiom was first recorded in 1657.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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