secure — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Free from attack or danger; protected.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The vast majority of American Jews not only greatly dislike President Trump but also believe he has made them less safe: according to a May 2019 poll, nearly three-quarters of Jewish voters believe American Jews are less secure under Trump than they were before, 71 percent disapprove of Trump’s overall job performance, and nearly 60 percent believe that he bears at least some responsibility for the synagogue shootings carried out by white nationalists in Pittsburgh and Poway.

2. Free from the danger of theft; safe.

3. Free from the risk of eavesdropping, interception or discovery; secret.

4. Free from anxiety or doubt; unafraid.

   Examples

   But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes.

   More examples (1)

   No sooner were we up there, than the old woman dragged the ladder, by which we had ascended, away with a chuckle, as if she was now secure that we could do no mischief, and sat herself down again once more, to doze and await her master's return.

5. Firm and not likely to fail; stable.

6. Free from the risk of financial loss; reliable.

7. Confident in opinion; not entertaining, or not having reason to entertain, doubt; certain; sure; commonly used with of.

   Examples

   secure of a welcome

   Confidence then bore thee on, secure / Either to meet no danger, or to find / Matter of glorious trial.

8. Overconfident; incautious; careless.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   They were secure where they ought to have been wary, and timorous where they might well have been secure.

9. Certain to be achieved or gained; assured.

   Examples

   Just when victory seemed secure, they let it slip from their grasp.

Verb

1. To make safe; to relieve from apprehensions of, or exposure to, danger; to guard; to protect.

   Examples

   I spread a cloud before the victor's sight, / Sustained the vanquished, and secured his flight.

2. To put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving; to make certain; to assure; frequently with against or from, or formerly with of.

   Examples

   to secure a creditor against loss; to secure a debt by a mortgage

   It secures its possessor of eternal happiness.

3. To fix in place; to close or confine effectually; to render incapable of getting loose or escaping.

   Examples

   to secure a prisoner; to secure a door, or the hatches of a ship

   All springs for the engine and tender are of the laminated type with plates of carbon steel, which are secured in the spring buckles by a vertical centre rivet.

4. To get possession of; to make oneself secure of; to acquire certainly.

   Examples

   to secure an estate

   Her achievements have secured her place in the annals of our nation

   More examples (3)

   With the Argentinian secured United will step up their attempt to sign a midfielder and, possibly, a defender in the closing days of the transfer window. Juventus’s Arturo Vidal, Milan’s Nigel de Jong and Ajax’s Daley Blind, who is also a left-sided defensive player, are potential targets.

   [Captain] was able to secure some good photographs of the fortress.

   One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.

5. To plight or pledge.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

Adjective

1. free from fear or doubt; easy in mind

   Synonyms

   unafraiduntroubled

   Antonyms

   insecure

   Examples

   he was secure that nothing will be held against him

2. free from danger or risk

   Antonyms

   insecure

   Examples

   secure from harm

   his fortune was secure

   More examples (1)

   made a secure place for himself in his field

3. not likely to fail or give way

   Antonyms

   insecure

   Examples

   the lock was secure

   a secure foundation

   More examples (1)

   a secure hold on her wrist

4. immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with

   Synonyms

   impregnableinviolablestrongunassailableunattackable

   Examples

   an impregnable fortress

   fortifications that made the frontier inviolable

   More examples (1)

   a secure telephone connection

5. financially safe

   Synonyms

   dependablegoodsafe

   Examples

   a good investment

   a secure investment

Verb

1. get by special effort

   Synonyms

   procure

   Broader terms

   obtain

   Examples

   He procured extra cigarettes even though they were rationed

2. cause to be firmly attached

   Synonyms

   fastenfix

   Broader terms

   attach

   Examples

   fasten the lock onto the door

   she fixed her gaze on the man

3. assure payment of

   Broader terms

   guaranteevouch

4. make certain of

   Synonyms

   guaranteeensureinsureassure

   Broader terms

   verify

   Examples

   This nest egg will ensure a nice retirement for us

   Preparation will guarantee success!

5. fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug

   Synonyms

   plugstop up

   Broader terms

   closefill up

   Examples

   plug the hole

   stop up the leak

6. furnish with battens

   Synonyms

   battenbatten down

   Broader terms

   strengthenbeef upfortify

   Examples

   batten ships