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sure

/ʃʊɹ/
adjectiveadverbinterjection

SURE meaning: certain, secure, reliable, or guaranteed; the word scores 4 Scrabble points and has five anagrams.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Adjective 4 meanings

  1. Physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.

    “This investment is a sure thing.”

  2. Certain in one's knowledge or belief.

    “Are you sure to succeed, as polls say? —Well, I am at least certain of making it to the podium this time.”

  3. Certain to act or be a specified way.

    “Be sure to lock the door when you leave.”

  4. Certain to obtain something.

    “Many people book early in order to be sure of the best seats.”

Adverb 1 meaning

  1. Without doubt, certainly.

    “Sure he's coming! Why wouldn't he?”

Interjection 3 meanings

  1. Yes; of course.

    “"Could you tell me where the washrooms are?" "Sure, they're in the corner over there."”

  2. Yes; I guess; you could say that; a weak or noncommittal positive response.

    “"Do you like cats?" "Sure."”

  3. You're welcome; polite response to being thanked.

    “"Thanks for helping me with that electrical fault." "Sure. Any time."”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English sure, seur, sur, from Middle French sur or Old French seür, from Latin sēcūrus (“secure”, literally “carefree”), from sē- (“apart”) + cūra (“care”) (compare Old English orsorg (“carefree”), from or- (“without”) + sorg (“care”)). See cure.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
certainfailsafereliablesickerpositivewisyes

SURE is a familiar four-letter adjective for confidence, safety, or reliability. You might be sure of an answer, sure that a door is secure, or sure someone will follow through. In word games, its four letters are all worth 1 point each, so the base score is easy to calculate before board bonuses.

SURE at a glance

  • SURE has four letters: S, U, R, and E each carry 1 Scrabble point.
  • Its face value is 4 points before premium squares or a rack bonus.
  • The five anagrams are USER, RUSE, RUES, SUER, and URES.
  • Fourteen one-letter neighbours include PURE, CURE, SORE, and SURF.
  • Twelve listed rhymes include FUTURE, PICTURE, NATURE, and PURE.

SURE meaning: certainty, safety, and confidence

SURE means certain or confident, as in “I’m sure the answer is right.” It also describes something physically secure or reliable, such as a sure foothold or a sure method. The word can describe a firm belief, a dependable action, or something certain to happen.

In Scrabble, SURE is worth 4 points because every tile scores 1. A premium letter square raises the value of the tile placed there, while a word square multiplies the whole play. SURE appears in Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE; games can use different dictionaries, so check your game's word list before a challenge.

What words can you make from SURE?

The five anagrams rearrange all four letters: USER, RUSE, RUES, SUER, and URES. USER and RUSE are the most familiar choices for everyday play; the remaining forms are less common. Keep the letters together when checking an anagram, since each answer uses S, U, R, and E exactly once.

SURE has fourteen one-letter neighbours, including PURE, CURE, SORE, and SURF. Its rhyme list contains twelve words, from FUTURE and PICTURE to NATURE and MEASURE. The SURE meaning stays tied to certainty, but its sound also connects it to longer words ending in the same “ure” pattern.

Rhymes with sure

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest

Questions people ask

Is SURE a valid Scrabble word?
Yes. SURE appears in Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE. Its standard face value is 4 points because each of its four letters is worth 1; premium squares change the play total, not the printed tile values.
What are the anagrams of SURE?
The five anagrams are USER, RUSE, RUES, SUER, and URES. Each rearranges all four letters without adding or removing a tile. USER and RUSE are familiar options; the others are less common in everyday writing.
What words rhyme with SURE?
The rhyme list has twelve entries, including FUTURE, PICTURE, FIGURE, NATURE, and MEASURE. The shared ending sound links SURE with both short words such as PURE and longer words such as STRUCTURE.

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