sure

sure
sure, surely
1. In all parts of the English-speaking world, surely is the dominant form in the meaning ‘in a sure or certain manner’ (slowly but surely) and in the use inviting or presupposing agreement (Surely that can't be right). In BrE, sure is limited as an adverb to fixed expressions such as sure as eggs is eggs and as sure as God made little apples, and to use as a form of assent in replying to a question or proposition, although this is better established in AmE:

• I asked if you could finish your lunch, and they said sure, no hurry —Rex Stout, 1975

• ‘Do you remember last night?’ I asked calmly, slipping on the skirt. ‘Sure I do.’ —fiction website, AmE 2003.

(Surely is also used in this way.)
2. In other adverbial uses sure is most closely associated with AmE:

• Parts of it were pretty, sure —Alison Lurie, 1969

• A chemical fire. You worry about those, sure, said Clerk —New Yorker, 1988.


Modern English usage. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • sure — sure …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • sûre — sûre …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Sure — Sure, a. [Compar. {Surer}; superl. {Surest}.] [OE. sur, OF. se[ u]r, F. s[^u]r, L. securus; se aside, without + cura care. See {Secure}, and cf. {Assure}, {Insure}, {Sicker} sure.] 1. Certainly knowing and believing; confident beyond doubt;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sure — [shoor] adj.. surer surest th [OFr .seur < L securus: see SECURE] 1. Obs. secure or safe 2. that will not fail; always effective [a sure method] 3. that can be relied upon; trustworthy [a sure friend] …   English World dictionary

  • sure — ► ADJECTIVE 1) completely confident that one is right. 2) (sure of/to do) certain to receive, get, or do. 3) undoubtedly true; completely reliable. 4) steady and confident. ► ADVERB informal ▪ certainly …   English terms dictionary

  • Sure — or SURE may refer to: * sure as probability, see certainty * Sure (brand), the brand by Unilever * Sure, a telephone company operating in the British Crown dependencies * Sure, a Chilean based film company * Stein s unbiased risk estimate (SURE) …   Wikipedia

  • Sure — Sûre Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sûre est le féminin de l adjectif sûr qui peut être employé pour qualifier ce qui a rapport à la sûreté. Depuis les rectifications orthographiques de …   Wikipédia en Français

  • sure — c.1300, safe, secure, later mentally certain (mid 15c.), from O.Fr. sur, seur safe, secure, from L. securus free from care, untroubled, heedless, safe (see SECURE (Cf. secure)). Pronunciation development followed that of SUGAR (Cf. sugar). As an… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sure — 1 assured, *confident, sanguine, presumptuous Analogous words: relying, trusting, depending, counting, banking (see RELY): inerrant, unerring, *infallible: *safe, secure 2 Sure, certain, positive, cocksure mean having or showing no doubt. Sure… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Sure — Sure, adv. In a sure manner; safely; certainly. Great, sure, shall be thy meed. Spenser. [1913 Webster] T is pleasant, sure, to see one s name in print. Byron. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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