make sure

make sure

English

Verb

make sure (third-person singular simple present makes sure, present participle making sure, simple past and past participle made sure)

1. To verify, to recheck (with extra care or caution).

   When you leave, make sure you have locked the door behind you.

2. To ensure, to be sure to (to take care that something happens).

   I'm going to make sure that I get to the interview on time.

   I expected to be able to get to the interview on time, but I left home earlier than usual just to make sure.

   • 2022 January 26, “Network News: TSSA opposes ScotRail's booking office proposals”, in RAIL, number 949, page 28:

     "We want to do everything we can to make sure everyone has a hassle-free journey.

3. (followed by of) To check the reliability (of something).

   Make sure of your sources before you publish.

4. (obsolete or regional) To be sure (convinced).
   • 1888, Emma Leslie, “Bertie Danby's Training. Chapter 6: New Hopes”, in The Sunday at Home, Religious Tract Society, page 575:

     "You—you said God would bring papa back, if I prayed to Him, and I did, Ann. I've asked God every day, and I've been expecting papa ever since, and when Jack brought the dinner to-day, I made sure he had come at last."

   • 2012, Judith Saxton, Family Feeling:

     'You won't stay? Not even for one night? Oh, but, Kate, there's so much to do. I made sure you'd both stay to help me,' Dot said, despair coursing through her at the thought of the solitary tasks ahead.

5. (obsolete) To betroth.
   • 1623, Thomas Dekker, The Wonder of a Kingdom

     she that's made sure to him she loves not well

Synonyms

• make certain
• make doubly sure
• (ensure): see to it

Translations

to verify

Dutch: zorgen (nl), opletten (nl) Estonian: veenduma, kindlustama Finnish: varmistaa (fi) French: s'assurer (fr) German: sicherstellen (de), sichergehen, zusehen (de) Greek: Ancient: ὁράω (horáō) (+infinitive) Italian: assicurarsi (it), accertarsi (it), sincerarsi, verificare (it) Manx: shickyree Polish: upewniać impf (someone else), upewnić (pl) pf (someone else), upewniać się (oneself), upewnić się (oneself) Portuguese: certificar-se Romanian: asigura (ro) Russian: удостове́риться (ru) (udostovéritʹsja) Spanish: asegurarse de, cerciorarse (es) Swedish: se till (sv), säkerställa (sv)

See also

• sure of