make sure
Idioms-
Make certain, establish something without doubt, as in Make sure all the doors are locked . It is also put as make sure of , as in Before you make that speech, make sure of your facts . This usage was first recorded in 1565.
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make sure of . Act so as to be certain of something, as in He wanted to make sure of his own district before seeking support elsewhere . This usage was first recorded in 1673.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But at the very least, investors should make sure the spending is counted when they’re sizing up the market.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
She has talked about how she brought a reclining chair into management team meetings at Meta, where she previously led the Facebook app, to make sure her blood pressure didn’t drop.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
“President Trump promised to reinvest in America’s national security infrastructure, to make sure our Nation is safe in a dangerous world,” the document reads.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
"It's just making sure that the club has enough money to function and make sure that we actually get the job done."
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
And, also, a super-boring day when Grandma and I scoured the dashboard and settings to make sure I was completely anonymous.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
