secure

[si-kyoor]

adjective

securer, securest 

1. free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.

   Antonyms: unsafe

2. dependable; firm; not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening.

   The building was secure, even in an earthquake.

   Synonyms: fixed, fast, stable

3. affording safety, as a place.

   He needed a secure hideout.

4. in safe custody or keeping.

   Here in the vault the necklace was secure.

5. free from care; without anxiety.

   emotionally secure.

6. firmly established, as a relationship or reputation.

   He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.

7. sure; certain; assured.

   secure of victory;

   secure in religious belief.

   Synonyms: confident

8. safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons.

   secure radio communications between army units.

9. Archaic.,  overconfident.

verb (used with object)

secured, securing 

1. to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain.

   to secure materials;

   to secure a high government position.

   Synonyms: gain

2. to free from danger or harm; make safe.

   Sandbags secured the town during the flood.

   Synonyms: safeguard, guard, protect

3. to effect; make certain of; ensure.

   The novel secured his reputation.

   Synonyms: guarantee, assure

4. to make firm or fast, as by attaching.

   to secure a rope.

5. Finance.

   1. to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.

   2. to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.

6. to lock or fasten against intruders.

   to secure the doors.

7. to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc..

   The regiment secured its position.

8. to capture (a person or animal).

   No one is safe until the murderer is secured.

9. to tie up (a person), especially by binding the person's arms or hands; pinion.

10. to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of.

    to secure diplomatic phone conversations.

verb (used without object)

secured, securing 

1. to be or become safe; have or obtain security.

2. Nautical.

   1. to cover openings and make movable objects fast.

      The crew was ordered to secure for sea.

   2. to be excused from duty.

      to secure from general quarters.

secure

/ sɪˈkjʊə /

adjective

1. free from danger, damage, etc

2. free from fear, care, etc

3. in safe custody

4. not likely to fail, become loose, etc

5. able to be relied on; certain

   a secure investment

6. nautical stowed away or made inoperative

7. archaic,  careless or overconfident

verb

1. (tr) to obtain or get possession of

   I will secure some good seats

2. to make or become free from danger, fear, etc

3. (tr) to make fast or firm; fasten

4. to make or become certain; guarantee

   this plan will secure your happiness

5. (tr) to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security

6. (tr) to make (a military position) safe from attack

7. nautical to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc

8. (tr) nautical to stow or make inoperative

   to secure the radio

Other Word Forms

• securer noun
• securely adverb
• secureness noun
• securement noun
• securable adjective
• oversecure adjective
• oversecurely adverb
• presecure verb (used with object)
• quasi-secure adjective
• quasi-securely adverb
• resecure verb
• supersecure adjective
• supersecurely adverb
• supersecureness noun
• unsecure adjective
• unsecurely adverb
• unsecureness noun
• well-secured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of secure¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin sēcūrus “carefree,” equivalent to sē- se- + cūr(a) “care” ( cure ) + -us, adjective suffix; sure

Word History and Origins

Origin of secure¹

C16: from Latin sēcūrus free from care, from sē- without + cūra care

Synonym Study

See safe. See get.

Example Sentences

Ms Stevenson said bringing Citizens Advice to the site was transformative - allowing some people to become sufficiently financially secure that they no longer needed to come to the foodbank.

From BBC

It comes after BAE Systems, which runs military shipyards on the Clyde at Scotstoun and Govan, last week secured a contract to build Type 26 frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy.

From BBC

Migrants were due to be moved out of The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, after Epping Forest District Council secured a temporary injunction in August.

From BBC

"For its part, the government remains fully committed to securing the broadest possible confidence of communities in Northern Ireland in the trading arrangements that apply," said Benn.

From BBC

And the SNP leader urged the prime minister to apologise for claiming that he had failed to welcome a £10bn shipbuilding deal that will secure thousands of jobs on the Clyde.

From BBC

Related Words

• achieve 
• assure 
• buy 
• capture 
• ensure 
• gain 
• get 
• guarantee 
• have 
• insure 
• take 
• win