Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ensure

/ɪnˈʃʊɹ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.70 in modern English

Syllables: en-sure
IPA: /ɪnˈʃʊɹ/

6

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make sure or certain of something (usually some future event or condition).

Intransitive verb

verb

To make a pledge to (someone); to promise, guarantee (someone of something); to assure.

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"I use an alarm clock to ensure that I get up on time."
"British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far."
"Thenne he cryed hym mercy and sayd Faire knyght for goddes loue slee me not / and I shall ensure the neuer werre ageynst thy lady / but be alwey toward her / Thenne Bors lete hym be"

Etymology

From Middle English ensuren, from Anglo-Norman enseurer, from Old French seur (“sure”). Doublet of insure.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: ensuren, enseurer, seur

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪnˈʃʊɹ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

ensures (present, singular) ensuring (participle, present) ensured (participle, past) ensured (past)

Derived Forms

ensurer

Frequently Paired Words

assure inshore insure

Synonyms

see check insure see to it control ascertain assure guarantee secure

Rhymes With

you're sure tour secure pure cure mature moore assure obscure endure unsure

Questions

How do you pronounce ensure?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈʃʊɹ/.
What does ensure mean?: To make sure or certain of something (usually some future event or condition).
Where does ensure come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ensure

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ensure”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈʃʊɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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