secure

[ si-kyoor ]

adjective

, se·cur·er, se·cur·est.

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)

, se·cured, se·cur·ing.

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)

, se·cured, se·cur·ing.

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. whenintr, often foll by against to make or become free from danger, fear, etc
3. tr to make fast or firm; fasten
4. whenintr, often foll by against 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

Derived Forms

• seˈcurer, noun
• seˈcurely, adverb
• seˈcureness, noun
• seˈcurement, noun
• seˈcurable, adjective

Other Words From

• se·cura·ble adjective
• se·curely adverb
• se·cureness noun
• se·curer noun
• over·se·cure adjective verb (used with object) oversecured oversecuring
• over·se·curely adverb
• pre·se·cure verb (used with object) presecured presecuring
• quasi-se·cure adjective
• quasi-se·curely adverb
• rese·cure verb resecured resecuring
• super·se·cure adjective
• super·se·curely adverb
• super·se·cureness noun
• unse·cure adjective
• unse·curely adverb
• unse·cureness noun
• well-se·cured 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

In 2024-25, Villa have shifted to a less secure back two.

From BBC

A growing minority say they’re willing to give up territory to secure peace.

From BBC

Dylan Thomas had been arrested weeks earlier for trying to scale the fence at Buckingham Palace, and is being treated for schizophrenia at a secure hospital.

From BBC

The 70-year-old was convicted last year of seven federal corruption charges stemming from a scheme to secure benefits for his son from a USC social work dean who sought his political support for L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Because the projects take a novel approach, experts say they can also have a difficult time securing the types of federal and state funding that traditionally provide the bulk of support for affordable housing development.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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