Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

ensure

verb
en·​sure | \ in-ˈshu̇r How to pronounce ensure (audio) \
ensured; ensuring

Definition of ensure

transitive verb

: to make sure, certain, or safe : guarantee
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Do you ensure or insure? Example Sentences Learn More about ensure

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for ensure

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

Do you ensure or insure?

There is considerable confusion about whether ensure and insure are distinct words, variants of the same word, or some combination of the two. They are in fact different words, but with sufficient overlap in meaning and form as to create uncertainty as to which should be used when. We define ensure as “to make sure, certain, or safe” and one sense of insure, “to make certain especially by taking necessary measures and precautions,” is quite similar. But insure has the additional meaning “to provide or obtain insurance on or for,” which is not shared by ensure. Some usage guides recommend using insure in financial contexts (as in “she insured her book collection for a million dollars”) and ensure in the general sense “to make certain” (as in “she ensured that the book collection was packed well”).

Examples of ensure in a Sentence

A combination of … personal courage, dashing leadership from the front, willingness to share the toughest rigours suffered by the ordinary soldiers, and a liberal dose of sheer good fortune ensured his stature as a great general. — Paul Cartledge, History Today, July 2004 Indeed, even though she's been off the mainstream radar for more than a decade, her passionate love for and commitment to rock & roll have ensured that she's managed to make a steady living. — Tom Sinclair, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Nov. 2000 At 20, [Kobe] Bryant is already living the modern American dream, a $70 million man on the NBA's glamour team in the nation's starriest city. His acrobatic moves make him the envy of teenage boys and his good looks and megawatt smile a heartthrob for teenage girls, ensuring his status as one of the NBA's premier pitchmen … — Allison Samuels et al., Newsweek, 31 May 1999 They took steps to ensure the safety of the passengers. regulations that ensure the wholesomeness of our food
See More

Recent Examples on the Web

 Do better by ensuring your shiny new Pre-K classrooms are planted equally into predominantly black school districts. — Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al, "Johnson: Keep the apology, governor, just do better for black Alabamians," 3 Sep. 2019 To ensure that the devil did not reanimate his purported collaborator, the grave was covered with a hulking, half-ton slab. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Wanted: The Missing Bones of a Scottish ‘Witch’," 3 Sep. 2019 Since the Flint drinking water crisis erupted five years ago, Americans have realized that many cities and towns struggle to ensure safe water. — Maura C. Allaire, The Conversation, "How to address America’s lead crisis and provide safe drinking water for all," 3 Sep. 2019 Michael Kretschmer, Saxony′s CDU premier, will take the credit for ensuring that the blue wave was kept in check. — Dresden, The Economist, "Germany’s governing parties keep the far right at bay—just," 1 Sep. 2019 Since 2016, Airbnb has sued more than a half dozen US cities and other government agencies over local ordinances regulating the short-term-rental industry and holding companies liable for ensuring the rentals comply with the law. — Wired, "Airbnb Starts to Play Nice With Cities," 31 Aug. 2019 Therefore, hospitals in states such as Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina must have a plan to ensure air conditioning, when possible. — Daniel B. Hess, Quartz, "How Florida hospitals are getting ready for Hurricane Dorian," 30 Aug. 2019 Such measures will serve to ensure that India becomes attractive again, for foreign investors. — Anand James, Quartz India, "Foreign investors are still not enthused by Modi government’s latest policy boost," 29 Aug. 2019 Schools have an interest in ensuring that students thrive, and whom a freshman lives with can have an immense impact on her long-term success in college and beyond. — Alia Wong, The Atlantic, "When College Plays Cupid for Roommates," 26 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ensure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of ensure

1660, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ensure

Middle English, from Anglo-French ensurer, alteration of assurer — more at assure

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for ensure

ensure

verb
How to pronounce ensure (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of ensure

: to make (something) sure, certain, or safe

See the full definition for ensure in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ensure

verb
en·​sure | \ in-ˈshu̇r How to pronounce ensure (audio) \
ensured; ensuring

Kids Definition of ensure

: to make sure, certain, or safe : guarantee The crossing guard ensures our safety as we cross the street.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

cataract

play

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!