sure

Meaning

Adj

1. Physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.
2. Certain in one's knowledge or belief.
3. Certain to act or be a specified way.
4. (obsolete) Free from danger; safe; secure.
5. (obsolete) Betrothed; engaged to marry.

Adv

1. (modal) Without doubt, certainly.
2. (archaic) Without fail, surely.

Intj

1. Yes; of course.
2. Yes; I guess; you could say that; a weak or noncommittal positive response.
3. You're welcome; polite response to being thanked.

Synonyms

certain

safe

definite

secure

certainly

confident

positive

of course

assured

convinced

reliable

true

surely

dependable

indeed

sure enough

undoubted

for certain

firm

trustworthy

doubtless

sure as shooting

unfailing

indisputable

accurate

steady

for sure

stable

real

exact

trusted

okay

doubtlessly

inevitable

yes

definitely

yeah

authentic

unerring

serious

fixed

responsible

truly

faithful

cocksure

quite

really

absolutely

destined

benign

Translations

seguro

sûr

sicher

certain

sicuro

certo

zeker

σίγουρος

certo

seguro

segur

certainement

gewis

ασφαλής

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʃʊə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: sure

Cognate with Old English: orsorg

Cognate with Middle English: siker

Cognate with Old English: sicor

In summary

From Middle English sure, seur, sur, from Middle French sur or Old French seür, from Latin sēcūrus (“secure”, literally “carefree”), from sē- (“apart”) + cūra (“care”) (compare Old English orsorg (“carefree”), from or- (“without”) + sorg (“care”)). See cure. Doublet of secure and the now obsolete or dialectal sicker (“certain, safe”).
Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewis, ġewiss (“certain, sure”)), as well as Middle English siker (“sure, secure”) (from Old English sicor (“secure, sure”)) with which it was cognate.

Sentences

Oh , to be sure !

Are you sure that Joe case is going on next week ?

Are you sure this is Claire .

I think it was last Thursday , but I am not sure .

You can be sure that they aren't when someone tells you they are wise .

Doctor Breslin , the university vice president , was not so sure .