Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - sure

(surer, surest) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you are sure that something is true, you are certain that it is true. If you are not sure about something, you do not know for certain what the true situation is. He’d never been in a class before and he was not even sure that he should have been teaching... The president has never been sure which direction he wanted to go in on this issue... It is impossible to be sure about the value of land. = certain ? doubtful ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ that, ADJ wh, ADJ about/of n 2. If someone is sure of getting something, they will definitely get it or they think they will definitely get it. A lot of people think that it’s better to pay for their education so that they can be sure of getting quality... ADJ: v-link ADJ of -ing/n 3. If you say that something is sure to happen, you are emphasizing your belief that it will happen. With over 80 beaches to choose from, you are sure to find a place to lay your towel... PHRASE c darkgreen]emphasis 4. Sure is used to emphasize that something such as a sign or ability is reliable or accurate. Sharpe’s leg and shoulder began to ache, a sure sign of rain... She has a sure grasp of social issues such as literacy, poverty and child care. ADJ: ADJ n c darkgreen]emphasis 5. If you tell someone to be sure to do something, you mean that they must not forget to do it. Be sure to read about how mozzarella is made, on page 65... Be sure you get your daily quota of calcium. ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ to-inf, ADJ that c darkgreen]emphasis 6. Sure is an informal way of saying ‘yes’ or ‘all right’. ‘He rang you?’—‘Sure. Last night.’... ‘I’d like to be alone, O.K?’—‘Sure. O.K.’... CONVENTION c darkgreen]formulae 7. You can use sure in order to emphasize what you are saying. (INFORMAL) ‘Has the whole world just gone crazy?’—‘Sure looks that way, doesn’t it.’ = certainly ADV: ADV before v c darkgreen]emphasis 8. You say sure enough, especially when telling a story, to confirm that something was really true or was actually happening. We found the English treacle pudding too good to resist. Sure enough, it was delicious... PHRASE: PHR with cl (not last in cl) 9. If you say that something is for sure or that you know it for sure, you mean that it is definitely true. One thing’s for sure, Astbury’s vocal style hasn’t changed much over the years... PHRASE: PHR with cl (not first in cl) 10. If you make sure that something is done, you take action so that it is done. Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully... PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR that 11. If you make sure that something is the way that you want or expect it to be, you check that it is that way. He looked in the bathroom to make sure that he was alone... PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR that 12. If you say that something is a sure thing, you mean that you are certain that it will happen or be successful. (INFORMAL) This proposal is by no means a sure thing. PHRASE 13. If you are sure of yourself, you are very confident about your own abilities or opinions. I’d never seen him like this, so sure of himself, so in command. PHRASE: v-link PHR