Library / English Dictionary

ASSURE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

Example:

control the quality of the product

Synonyms:

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "assure" is one way to...):

verify (confirm the truth of)

Verb group:

control; verify (check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard)

ascertain; check; determine; find out; learn; see; watch (find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort)

check (verify by consulting a source or authority)

check; check off; mark; mark off; tick; tick off (put a check mark on or near or next to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "assure"):

proof; proofread (read for errors)

control (verify by using a duplicate register for comparison)

double-check (check once more to be absolutely sure)

cross-check (check out conflicting sources; crosscheck facts, for example)

cinch (make sure of)

card (ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor)

spot-check (pick out random samples for examination in order to ensure high quality)

cover (maintain a check on; especially by patrolling)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 2

Meaning:

Assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence

Example:

I assured him that traveling to Cambodia was safe

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "assure" is one way to...):

persuade (cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "assure"):

reassure (give or restore confidence in; cause to feel sure or certain)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody of something
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

assurance (a statement intended to inspire confidence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make a promise or commitment

Synonyms:

assure; promise

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "assure" is one way to...):

declare (state emphatically and authoritatively)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "assure"):

pledge; plight (promise solemnly and formally)

swear off (promise to abstain from)

contract; undertake (enter into a contractual arrangement)

guarantee; undertake (promise to do or accomplish)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

assurance (a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make certain of

Example:

Preparation will guarantee success!

Synonyms:

assure; ensure; guarantee; insure; secure

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Verb group:

guarantee; vouch (give surety or assume responsibility)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "assure"):

doom (make certain of the failure or destruction of)

make (assure the success of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Inform positively and with certainty and confidence

Example:

I tell you that man is a crook!

Synonyms:

assure; tell

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "assure" is one way to...):

affirm; assert; aver; avow; swan; swear; verify (to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody of something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 6

Meaning:

Cause to feel sure; give reassurance to

Example:

The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe

Synonyms:

assure; reassure

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "assure" is one way to...):

calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize (make calm or still)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The good news will assure her

Credits

 Context examples: 

It is more than I engage for, I assure you.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He found it expedient to be cautious all the time, except for the rare moments, when, assured of his own intrepidity, he abandoned himself to petty rages and lusts.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“Bring a torch, Dick,” said Silver when my capture was thus assured.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

In a fit of enthusiastic madness I created a rational creature and was bound towards him to assure, as far as was in my power, his happiness and well-being.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

He assures them that their last sample is impure and quite useless for his present purpose.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I can assure you that many times in the course of the evening I wished that I could invent some excuse which would take me back to Lee.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For my own part, if I were only assured that I was as clever and brave as the average man about me, I should be well satisfied.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Rest assured of this, that if all else fail I have always a safeguard here—drawing a small silver-hilted poniard from her bosom—which sets me beyond the fear of these vile and blood-stained wretches.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

An organization that works to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability.

(Patient Advocacy Group, NCI Thesaurus)

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is in charge of assuring the safety and effectiveness of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

(Medicines, NIH)