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Inflections of 'secure ' (v ): (⇒ conjugate )secures v 3rd person singular securing v pres p secured v past secured v past p
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026 se•cure /sɪˈkyʊr/USA pronunciation
adj., -cur•er, -cur•est, v., -cured, -cur•ing. adj.
of or relating to security:They kept the jewels secure in the bank.
not liable or likely to fail, give way, etc.:He had a secure grip on the rope.
providing safety; kept in a safe place:a secure hiding place.
free from anxiety:emotionally secure.
certain; confident:secure in his religious belief.
safe from being intercepted by unauthorized persons:secure radio communications.
v. [ ~ + object]
to get hold of; obtain:to secure a new job.
to free from danger or harm; make safe:to secure the town from flooding.
to make certain of; ensure:The novel secured his reputation.
to make fast or tight:to secure a rope.
Business to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property:to secure a loan.
to fasten against intruders:Secure your doors and windows.
to tie up the arms or hands of:to secure the prisoners.
se•cure•ly , adv.: Be sure your seatbelt is fastened securely. See -cura- .
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026 se•cure
(si kyŏŏr′ ),USA pronunciation adj., -cur•er, -cur•est, v., -cured, -cur•ing. adj.
free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.
dependable; firm; not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening:The building was secure, even in an earthquake.
affording safety, as a place:He needed a secure hideout.
in safe custody or keeping:Here in the vault the necklace was secure.
free from care; without anxiety:emotionally secure.
firmly established, as a relationship or reputation:He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.
sure; certain; assured:secure of victory; secure in religious belief.
safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons:secure radio communications between army units.
[ Archaic.] overconfident.
v.t.
to get hold or possession of; procure; obtain:to secure materials; to secure a high government position.
to free from danger or harm; make safe:Sandbags secured the town during the flood.
to effect; make certain of; ensure:The novel secured his reputation.
to make firm or fast, as by attaching:to secure a rope.
Business [ Finance.]
to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.
to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.
to lock or fasten against intruders:to secure the doors.
to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc.:The regiment secured its position.
to capture (a person or animal):No one is safe until the murderer is secured.
to tie up (a person), esp. by binding the person's arms or hands; pinion.
to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of:to secure diplomatic phone conversations.
v.i.
to be or become safe; have or obtain security.
[ Naut.]
Naval Terms to cover openings and make movable objects fast:The crew was ordered to secure for sea.
Naval Terms to be excused from duty:to secure from general quarters.
Latin sēcūrus carefree, equivalent. to sē- se - + cūr (a ) care (see cure ) + -us adjective, adjectival suffix; compare sure 1525–35
se•cur′ a•ble , adj.
se•cure′ ly , adv.
se•cure′ ness , n.
se•cur′ er , n.
1. protected. See safe. 2. stable, fast, fixed. 7. confident. 10. gain. See get. 11. protect, guard, safeguard. 12. assure, guarantee.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
secure /sɪˈkjʊə / adj free from danger, damage, etc free from fear, care, etc in safe custody not likely to fail, become loose, etc able to be relied on; certain archaic careless or overconfident vb (transitive ) to obtain or get possession of : I will secure some good seats when intr, often followed by against : to make or become free from danger, fear, etc (transitive ) to make fast or firm; fasten when intr, often followed by against : to make or become certain; guarantee : this plan will secure your happiness (transitive ) to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security (transitive ) to make (a military position) safe from attack to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin sēcūrus free from care, from sē- without + cūra care seˈcurable adj seˈcurely adv seˈcurement n seˈcurer n
'secure ' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):