- used to say ‘yes’ to somebody
- ‘Will you get me my coat?’ ‘Sure, where is it?’
- Did it hurt? Sure it hurt.
- Sure, no problem.
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- used to emphasize something that you are saying
- Boy, it sure is hot.
- ‘Amazing view’. ‘Sure is.’
- I sure hope you are right about that.
- That song sure as hell sounds familiar.
- He sure looked unhappy.
- Working in technology sure beats flipping burgers.
- I sure do agree with that.
- used to reply to somebody who has just thanked you for something
- ‘Thanks for the ride.’ ‘Sure—anytime.’
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French sur, from Latin securus ‘free from care’.
Idioms
See sure in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary(as) sure as eggs is eggs
- (old-fashioned, British English, informal) used to say that something is definitely true
sure enough
- used to say that something happened as expected
- I said he'd forget, and sure enough he did.
- ‘Stop,’ she said, ‘I can hear something.’ Sure enough, in the distance we could hear the sound of a car approaching.
Check pronunciation:
sure