Secure — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /si-ˈkyu̇r/ se·cure

Meaning & Definition of Secure

Secure (adjective)

  1. free from danger
  2. affording safety
  3. trustworthy, dependable

Secure (verb)

  1. to relieve from exposure to danger, act to make safe against adverse contingencies
  2. to put beyond hazard of losing or of not receiving, guarantee
  3. to give pledge of payment to (a creditor) or of (an obligation)

Secure (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to drive danger or attack away from

    "sent troops to secure the city"

    similar: bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, shield, ward, stand up for
    related: avert, prevent, oppose, resist, withstand, battle, contend, fight, war, conserve, preserve, save, buffer, palisade, picket, wall
    opposite: assail, assault, attack
    near: bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield

  2. to make sure, certain, or safe

    "a retirement account that will help to secure our future"

    similar: assure, cinch, ensure, guarantee, guaranty, ice, insure
    related: attest, certify, vouch, warrant, witness, pledge, promise, swear
    near: enfeeble, undermine, weaken

  3. to put securely in place or in a desired position

    "candidates for admission are asked to secure a recent photo to their application forms"

    similar: anchor, catch, clamp, fasten, fix, hitch, moor, set
    related: embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, stuff, wedge
    opposite: loose, loosen, unfasten, unfix, unloose, unloosen
    near: extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wrest, yank

  4. to receive as return for effort

    "finally secured a job after sending out dozens of applications"

    similar: acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, win
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

Secure (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities

    "he's so secure about winning the marathon that he's practically spent the prize money"

    similar: assured, confident, self-asserting, self-assured, self-confident
    related: collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, poised, recollected, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, unperturbed, unshaken, hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine, upbeat, complacent, conceited, egoistic, egotistic, important, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-affected, self-applauding, self-centered, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-contented, self-important, self-pleased, self-satisfied, self-promoting, smug, stuck-up, vain, vainglorious, imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unself-conscious, unshakable, disciplined, self-collected, self-composed, self-contained, self-controlled, self-poised, self-reliant, self-sufficient
    opposite: diffident, insecure, self-distrustful, self-doubting
    near: meek, timid, unassertive, humble, modest, unassuming, unpretentious, jittery, jumpy, nervous, bashful, demure, mousy, overmodest, quiet, reserved, shy, self-critical, self-reproachful, self-reproving

  2. not exposed to the threat of loss or injury

    "the fortress was thought to be secure against attack"

    similar: all right, alright, safe, home free
    related: hale, healthy, intact, sound, well, whole, scatheless, unharmed, unhurt, uninjured, unscathed
    opposite: endangered, exposed, imperiled, insecure, liable, open, subject (to), susceptible, threatened, unsafe, violable, vulnerable
    near: damaged, harmed, hurt, injured, scathed, wounded

  3. providing safety

    "escaped to a secure location"

    similar: safe, snug
    related: guarding, protecting, safeguarding, sheltering, shielding, defended, guarded, protected, sheltered, shielded, impregnable, inviolable, invulnerable, unassailable, unconquerable
    opposite: dangerous, hazardous, insecure, risky, unsafe
    near: menacing, minatory, parlous, perilous, threatening, undefended, unguarded, unprotected, vulnerable, precarious, treacherous, uncertain

  4. worthy of one's trust

    "a fund that should provide them with a secure income in their retirement"

    similar: calculable, dependable, good, reliable, responsible, safe, solid, steady, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustable, trustworthy, trusty
    related: constant, devoted, faithful, fast, loyal, staunch, steadfast, true-blue, honest, sincere, single-minded, infallible, unerring, bedrock, firm, sound, strong, effective, telling, attested, authenticated, confirmed, proven, valid, validated, verified, blameless, faultless, guiltless, impeccable, inerrant, irreproachable, unimpeachable, unquestionable
    opposite: dodgy (chiefly British), uncertain, undependable, unreliable, unsafe, untrustworthy
    near: disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, untrue, deceitful, dishonest, lying, mendacious, untruthful, debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, fishy, problematic, questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, uncertain, unsound, hazardous, risky, unconfirmed, untried

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Secure

The most common words with a similar meaning to Secure:

bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, shield, ward, assure, cinch, ensure, guarantee, guaranty, ice, insure, anchor, catch, clamp, fasten, fix, hitch, moor, set, acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Secure

Words with the opposite meaning of Secure:

assail, assault, attack, loose, loosen, unfasten, unfix, unloose, unloosen, forfeit, lose, diffident, insecure, self-distrustful, self-doubting, endangered, exposed, imperiled, liable, open, subject (to), susceptible, threatened, unsafe, violable, vulnerable, dangerous, hazardous, risky, dodgy

Related Words for Secure

avert, prevent, oppose, resist, withstand, battle, contend, fight, war, conserve, preserve, save, buffer, palisade, picket, wall, attest, certify, vouch, warrant, witness, pledge, promise, swear, embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, stuff

Near Antonyms of Secure

bombard, storm, beset, besiege, overrun, capitulate, cave, submit, yield, enfeeble, undermine, weaken, extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wrest, yank, accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender

Word Forms of Secure

Inflections: securer, securest, secured, securing

Derived words: securely (adverb), secureness (noun), securer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Secure

Latin securus safe, secure, from se without + cura care suicide

First known use: circa 1545

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Secure

Words & Phrases Containing Secure

food secure, be secure in the belief/knowledge, financially secure, safe/secure in the knowledge

Frequently Asked Questions about Secure

What does "Secure" mean?

"Secure" means free from danger. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: free from danger. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Secure"?

Other words for "Secure" include bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard and keep. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Secure" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Secure"?

There are 235 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Secure". Common alternatives include bulwark, cover, defend, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect and safeguard.

What is the opposite of "Secure"?

Antonyms of "Secure" include assail, assault, attack, loose, loosen, unfasten, unfix and unloose. Near antonyms include bombard, storm, beset and besiege.

How do you use "Secure" in a sentence?

Examples of "Secure" in a sentence: "sent troops to secure the city"; "a retirement account that will help to secure our future"; "candidates for admission are asked to secure a recent photo to their application forms".

Is "Secure" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Secure" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Secure" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Secure" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Secure"?

"Secure" is pronounced /si-ˈkyu̇r/ and divided into syllables as se·cure.