secure
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- safe, immune, protected, unassailable
- sure, assured, certain, confident, easy, reassured
- fixed, fast, fastened, firm, immovable, stable, steady
[verb]
Synonyms:
- obtain, acquire, gain, get, procure, score (slang)
- fasten, attach, bolt, chain, fix, lock, make fast, tie up

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Antonyms: insecure
Contrasted words: open, wide-open, assailable, weak, dangerous, precarious, unbalanced, unstable, wobbly, unfasten, untie
Related Words: firm, stable, strong, iron, established, settled, balanced, underwrite, batten (down), clamp, clinch, pinion, rivet, tie down, cement

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English Thesaurus: safe, secure, well protected, out of harm’s way, OK/all right, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. se‧cure¹ S3 W3 AC /sɪˈkʊə $ -ˈkjʊr/ adjective
[Word Family: verb: secure; noun: security ≠ insecurity; adverb: securely ≠ insecurely; adjective: secure ≠ insecure]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: securus, from se 'without' + cura 'care']

1. PERMANENT/CERTAIN a situation that is secure is one that you can depend on because it is not likely to change Antonym : insecure:
There are no secure jobs these days.
We want a secure future for our children.
United’s position at the top of the league seems relatively secure.

2. PLACE/BUILDING locked or guarded so that people cannot get in or out or steal anything:
The house isn’t very secure – we need some new locks.
Keep your passport in a secure place.
secure accommodation British English (=a type of prison)
In the last year, only three children under the age of 14 have had to be placed in secure accommodation.

3. SAFE FROM HARM safe from and protected against damage or attack:
Companies can offer secure credit card transactions over the Internet.
secure from
These elephants are relatively secure from poachers.

4. CONFIDENT feeling confident about yourself and your abilities Antonym : insecure:
We want our children to be secure and feel good about themselves.

5. NOT WORRIED feeling confident and certain about a situation and not worried that it might change Antonym : insecure:
Workers no longer feel secure about the future.
It was enough money to make us feel financially secure.
We huddled together, secure in the knowledge that the rescue helicopter was on its way.

6. FIRMLY FASTENED firmly fastened or tied, and not likely to fall down:
Are you sure that shelf is secure?

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. secure² W3 AC verb [transitive]
[Word Family: verb: secure; noun: security ≠ insecurity; adverb: securely ≠ insecurely; adjective: secure ≠ insecure]

1. GET/ACHIEVE to get or achieve something that will be permanent, especially after a lot of effort:
Boyd’s goal secured his team’s place in the Cup Final.
secure a deal/contract
The company secured a $20 million contract.
Negotiators are still working to secure the hostages’ release.
Redgrave won his third Olympic gold medal, and secured his place in history.

2. SAFE FROM HARM to make something safe from being attacked, harmed, or lost:
Troops were sent to secure the border.
secure something against somebody/something
They built a ten-foot high fence to secure the house against intruders.
an agreement to secure the future of the rainforest

3. TIE FIRMLY to fasten or tie something firmly in a particular position
secure something to something
John secured the boat firmly to the jetty.

4. BORROWING MONEY if you secure a debt or a loan, you legally promise that, if you cannot pay back the money you have borrowed, you will give the lender goods or property of the same value instead:
He used his house to secure the loan.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

secure
adj.
VERBS be, feel | become | make sth | keep sth It's important to keep your documents secure.
ADV. extremely, very | absolutely, completely, entirely, perfectly, quite, totally, utterly | fairly, pretty, reasonably, relatively | enough, sufficiently I finally felt secure enough in myself to have a child of my own.
apparently | economically, financially | socially
PREP. against The house has been made secure against intruders.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

secure
verb
I. fix/lock sth firmly
ADV. firmly, properly, tightly
PREP. to The crates had not been properly secured to the truck.
with She secured the boat with a rope.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

secure
II. get/achieve sth
ADV. easily Victory was not going to be easily secured.
automatically
VERB + SECURE be able to, manage to | fail to They failed to secure the release of the prisoners.
help (to)
PHRASES an attempt/effort to secure sth, be aimed at securing sth, a chance/hope of securing sth trying to improve their chances of securing employment
succeed/be successful in securing sth

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

safe not in danger of being harmed, lost, or stolen. Also used about a place where someone or something is safe:
I don’t feel safe around here.
Keep your valuables in a safe place.
secure if something is secure, it is safe from thieves and criminals. Also used about a place where something is safe:
How do I know that my personal details are secure?
The money is in a very secure place.
well protected not likely to be damaged or harmed by something:
The equipment was well protected from the rain.
Always make sure that you are well protected from the sun.
out of harm’s way in a place where someone or something cannot be hurt or damaged:
She put the glass vases on the top shelf, out of harm’s way.
Make sure that he stays out of harm’s way.
OK/all right informal safe and not hurt:
I was glad to hear that you were OK.
unharmed not hurt:
The kidnappers released the young man unharmed.
unscathed /ʌnˈskeɪðd/ not hurt or damaged, after an accident, an attack, or a dangerous experience – used when you are surprised by this:
The baby escaped unscathed.
Miraculously, the old part of the city remained unscathed.
in one piece informal not harmed or damaged, especially after a journey or a dangerous experience:
I’m glad you’re home in one piece.
out of danger safe, after being in a dangerous situation:
As soon as they were out of danger, they stopped for a rest.
His doctors say he is out of danger.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲