for sure


Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

sure

 (sho͝or, shûr)
adj. sur·er, sur·est
1. Confident, as of something awaited or expected: I am sure we will win the game.
2. Impossible to doubt or dispute; certain: We have sure proof of his innocence.
3.
a. Bound to come about or happen; inevitable: a sure victory for the team.
b. Having one's course directed; destined or bound: She is sure to succeed.
4.
a. Certain not to miss, slip, or err; steady: a sure grip on the suitcase.
b. Not hesitating or wavering; firm: sure convictions.
5.
a. Worthy of being trusted or depended on; reliable: a sure friend.
b. Free from or marked by freedom from doubt: She is sure of her friends.
6. Careful to do something: Be sure to turn off the stove.
7. Obsolete Free from harm or danger; safe.
adv. Informal
Surely; certainly.
Idioms:
for sure Informal
Certainly; unquestionably: We'll win for sure.
make sure
To establish something without doubt; make certain: Make sure he writes it down.
sure enough
As one might have expected; certainly.
to be sure
Indeed; certainly.

[Middle English, from Old French, safe, from Latin sēcūrus; see secure.]

sure′ness n.
Synonyms: sure, certain, confident, positive
These adjectives mean feeling or showing no doubt. Sure and certain are frequently used interchangeably; sure, however, is the more subjective term, whereas certain may imply belief based on experience or evidence: "Never teach a child anything of which you are not yourself sure" (John Ruskin)."We went that early because we were certain it was the only way we would ever get a seat" (Ann Patchett).
Confident suggests assurance founded on faith or reliance in oneself or in others: "It goes without saying that a smiling, confident person will do better in an interview than a surly one" (Barbara Ehrenreich).
Positive suggests full, emphatic certainty: "We were young, and I was positive nothing really terrible could happen to us" (Nora Roberts). See Also Synonyms at certain.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.for sure - not open to doubt; "she wanted to go; that was for sure"
unquestionable - incapable of being questioned; "unquestionable authority"
Adv.1.for sure - definitely or positively (`sure' is sometimes used informally for `surely'); "the results are surely encouraging"; "she certainly is a hard worker"; "it's going to be a good day for sure"; "they are coming, for certain"; "they thought he had been killed sure enough"; "he'll win sure as shooting"; "they sure smell good"; "sure he'll come"
colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
بالتّأكيد
s jistotou
med sikkerhed
vissulega; fyrir víst
s istotou
kesin olarakkesinlikle

sure

(ʃuə) adjective
1. (negative unsure) having no doubt; certain. I'm sure that I gave him the book; I'm not sure where she lives / what her address is; `There's a bus at two o'clock.' `Are you quite sure?'; I thought the idea was good, but now I'm not so sure; I'll help you – you can be sure of that!
2. unlikely to fail (to do or get something). He's sure to win; You're sure of a good dinner if you stay at that hotel.
3. reliable or trustworthy. a sure way to cure hiccups; a safe, sure method; a sure aim with a rifle.
adverb
(especially American) certainly; of course. Sure I'll help you!; `Would you like to come?' `Sure!'
ˈsurely adverb
1. used in questions, exclamations etc to indicate what the speaker considers probable. Surely she's finished her work by now!; You don't believe what she said, surely?
2. without doubt, hesitation, mistake or failure. Slowly but surely we're achieving our aim.
3. (in answers) certainly; of course. `May I come with you?' `Surely!'
ˈsureness noun
ˌsure-ˈfooted adjective
not likely to slip or stumble. Goats are sure-footed animals.
as sure as
used in various phrases that mean `without fail' or `without doubt'. As sure as fate / anything / eggs are eggs, he'll be late again.
be sure to
don't fail to. Be sure to switch off the television.
be/feel sure of oneself
to be confident.
for sure
definitely or certainly. We don't know for sure that he's dead.
make sure
to act so that, or check that, something is certain or sure. Arrive early at the cinema to make sure of (getting) a seat!; I think he's coming today but I'll telephone to make sure (of that / that he is).
sure enough
in fact, as was expected. I thought she'd be angry, and sure enough she was.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in periodicals archive ?
Finding new channels for Sure Fit merchandise won't stop with the hospitality industry.
Instead, funding for Sure Start, mental health help in schools, and support for vulnerable families is going to councils from the same pot - the government's new Early Intervention Grant.
There's no way to know for sure unless you strap him to a polygraph.