Standard Lemma guide

insure

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɪnˈʃɔː(ɹ)/ pour–poor merger
  • /ɪnˈʃʊə(ɹ)/ without the pour–poor merger
  • General-American: /ɪnˈʃʊɚ/
  • General-American: /ɪnˈʃɝ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)
  • rhymes with -ʊə(ɹ)
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N SH UH1 R Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To provide for compensation if some specified risk occurs. Often agreed by policy (contract) to offer financial compensation in case of an accident, theft or other undesirable event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I'm not insured against burglary.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To deal in such contracts; subscribe to a policy of insurance

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Alternative spelling of ensure; to make sure or certain of; guarantee.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, alt-of, alternative, dated, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He verified that the valves were closed
  • See that the curtains are closed
  • control the quality of the product

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: see, check, see to it, ensure, control, ascertain, assure

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: verify

Narrower terms: proofread, proof, control, double-check, cross-check, cinch, card, spot-check, cover

5

verb

Meaning 5

make certain of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This nest egg will ensure a nice retirement for us
  • Preparation will guarantee success!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: guarantee, ensure, assure, secure

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: doom, make

6

verb

Meaning 6

protect by insurance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The insurance won't cover this

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cover, underwrite

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: guarantee, warrant

Narrower terms: reinsure, indemnify

7

verb

Meaning 7

take out insurance for

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: protect

Narrower terms: reinsure, coinsure

History

Etymology

First attested in c. 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from Old French en- + seür (“sure”), probably influenced by Old French asseürer (“to assure”)); took on its particular sense of "make safe against loss by payment of premiums" in 1635, replacing assure. Doublet of ensure.

Across languages

Translations

41 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: ապահովագրել (apahovagrel) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Azerbaijani: sığortalamaq — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Bulgarian: застраховам (zastrahovam) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Catalan: assegurar — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Czech: pojistit — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Danish: forsikre — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Dutch: verzekeren — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Esperanto: asekuri — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Finnish: vakuuttaa — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • French: assurer — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Galician: asegurar — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • German: versichern — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Greek: ασφαλίζω (asfalízo) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Hebrew: ביטח — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Hebrew: בִּטֵּחַ (bitéakh) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Hungarian: biztosít — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Icelandic: tryggja — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Irish: cuir árachas ar — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Italian: assicurare — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Latvian: apdrošināt — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Māori: inihua — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Persian: بیمه بودن (bime budan) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Polish: ubezpieczać — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Polish: ubezpieczyć — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Romanian: asigura — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Russian: страхова́ть (straxovátʹ) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Russian: застрахо́вывать (zastraxóvyvatʹ) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Russian: застрахова́ть (zastraxovátʹ) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Serbo-Croatian: osiguravati — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Serbo-Croatian: osigurati — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Spanish: asegurar — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Swedish: försäkra — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Turkish: sigorta etmek — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Ukrainian: страхува́ти (straxuváty) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Ukrainian: застрахо́вувати (zastraxóvuvaty) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Ukrainian: застрахува́ти (zastraxuváty) — to provide for compensation if some risk occurs
  • Dutch: verzekeren — to deal in such contracts
  • Dutch: doen in verzekeringen — to deal in such contracts
  • Persian: بیمه کردن (bime kardan) — to deal in such contracts
  • Russian: страхова́ть (straxovátʹ) — to deal in such contracts
  • Russian: застрахова́ть (zastraxovátʹ) — to deal in such contracts