secure

UK: /sɪˈkjʊə^r/ US: /sɪˈkjʊr/ ,(si kyŏŏr′)

Inflections of 'secure' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

secures

v 3rd person singular

securing

v pres p

secured

v past

secured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

se•cure /sɪˈkyʊr/   adj., -cur•er, -cur•est, v., -cured, -cur•ing. 
adj. 

1. of or relating to security:
   They kept the jewels secure in the bank.
2. not liable or likely to fail, give way, etc.:
   He had a secure grip on the rope.
3. providing safety;
   kept in a safe place:
   a secure hiding place.
4. free from anxiety:
   emotionally secure.
5. certain;
   confident:
   secure in his religious belief.
6. safe from being intercepted by unauthorized persons:
   secure radio communications.

v. [~ + object]

7. to get hold of;
   obtain:
   to secure a new job.
8. to free from danger or harm;
   make safe:
   to secure the town from flooding.
9. to make certain of;
   ensure:
   The novel secured his reputation.
10. to make fast or tight:
    to secure a rope.
11. Business to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property:
    to secure a loan.
12. to fasten against intruders:
    Secure your doors and windows.
13. to tie up the arms or hands of:
    to secure the prisoners.

se•cure•ly, adv.: 

Be sure your seatbelt is fastened securely.

See -cura-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

se•cure  (si kyŏŏr′), adj., -cur•er, -cur•est, v., -cured, -cur•ing. 
adj. 

1. free from or not exposed to danger or harm;
   safe.
2. dependable;
   firm;
   not liable to fail, yield, become displaced, etc., as a support or a fastening:
   The building was secure, even in an earthquake.
3. affording safety, as a place:
   He needed a secure hideout.
4. in safe custody or keeping:
   Here in the vault the necklace was secure.
5. free from care;
   without anxiety:
   emotionally secure.
6. firmly established, as a relationship or reputation:
   He earned a secure place among the baseball immortals.
7. sure;
   certain;
   assured:
   secure of victory; secure in religious belief.
8. safe from penetration or interception by unauthorized persons:
   secure radio communications between army units.
9. [Archaic.] overconfident.

v.t. 

10. to get hold or possession of;
    procure;
    obtain:
    to secure materials; to secure a high government position.
11. to free from danger or harm;
    make safe:
    Sandbags secured the town during the flood.
12. to effect;
    make certain of;
    ensure:
    The novel secured his reputation.
13. to make firm or fast, as by attaching:
    to secure a rope.
14. Business [Finance.]
    • to assure payment of (a debt) by pledging property.
    • to assure (a creditor) of payment by the pledge or mortgaging of property.
15. to lock or fasten against intruders:
    to secure the doors.
16. to protect from attack by taking cover, by building fortifications, etc.:
    The regiment secured its position.
17. to capture (a person or animal):
    No one is safe until the murderer is secured.
18. to tie up (a person), esp. by binding the person's arms or hands;
    pinion.
19. to guarantee the privacy or secrecy of:
    to secure diplomatic phone conversations.

v.i. 

20. to be or become safe;
    have or obtain security.
21. [Naut.]
    • Naval Terms to cover openings and make movable objects fast:
      The crew was ordered to secure for sea.
    • Naval Terms to be excused from duty:
      to secure from general quarters.

• Latin sēcūrus carefree, equivalent. to sē- se- + cūr(a) care (see cure) + -us adjective, adjectival suffix; compare sure
• 1525–35

se•cur′a•ble, adj. 
se•cure′ly, adv. 
se•cure′ness, n. 
se•cur′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. protected. See safe. 
• 2. stable, fast, fixed.
• 7. confident.
• 10. gain. See get. 
• 11. protect, guard, safeguard.
• 12. assure, guarantee.

Antonyms

• 1. unsafe.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

secure / sɪˈkjʊə/ adjective

1. free from danger, damage, etc
2. free from fear, care, etc
3. in safe custody
4. not likely to fail, become loose, etc
5. able to be relied on; certain
6. careless or overconfident

verb

1. (transitive) to obtain or get possession of: I will secure some good seats
2. when intr, often followed by against: to make or become free from danger, fear, etc
3. (transitive) to make fast or firm; fasten
4. when intr, often followed by against: to make or become certain; guarantee: this plan will secure your happiness
5. (transitive) to assure (a creditor) of payment, as by giving security
6. (transitive) to make (a military position) safe from attack
7. to make (a vessel or its contents) safe or ready by battening down hatches, stowing gear, etc

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin sēcūrus free from care, from sē- without + cūra care

seˈcurable adjective

seˈcurely adverb

seˈcurement noun

seˈcurer noun