secure

/sɪˈkjʊr/
verbadjectiveIntermediate
general

to protect something from danger or harm

She secured her bike with a strong lock.

She protected her bike from theft by using a strong lock.

💡

Often used with prepositions like 'against' or 'from'.

general

to obtain something with certainty

He secured a job at a top company.

He successfully obtained a job at a top company.

💡

Can be used in formal or informal contexts.

general

to make something stable or firm

The rope secured the tent to the ground.

The rope made the tent stable by fixing it to the ground.

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Common in technical and everyday contexts.

Collocations

secure a dealto successfully finalize an agreementsecure a positionto obtain a job or rolesecure a loanto obtain a loan from a bank

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

secure a winphrase
to guarantee victory
secure the perimeterphrase
to protect the outer boundary of an area

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

Use 'secure' when referring to actions that protect or obtain something with certainty.

Gold Rule

Verb vs. Adjective

As a verb, 'secure' implies action; as an adjective, it describes a state of being safe or protected.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'securer', from Latin 'securus' meaning 'free from care', from 'se-' (without) + 'cura' (care).

📝Usage Notes

Can be used as both a verb and an adjective. As a verb, it often implies action taken to protect or obtain something. As an adjective, it describes something that is safe or protected.

Word Breakdown

se-
without
prefix
+
-cur
care
root
+
-e
adjective suffix
suffix
English Dictionary