"make sure" meaning in All languages combined

See make sure on Wiktionary

Verb [English]

Forms: makes sure [present, singular, third-person], making sure [participle, present], made sure [participle, past], made sure [past]
Head templates: {{en-verb|make<,,made> sure}} make sure (third-person singular simple present makes sure, present participle making sure, simple past and past participle made sure)
  1. To ensure that something specific happens, is done etc., or of something happening. Synonyms (ensure): to it
    Sense id: en-make_sure-en-verb-gCb1TaOy Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 42 40 14 4 Disambiguation of 'ensure': 88 3 3 6
  2. To make oneself certain (of something, or that something is the case); to verify, to ascertain. Synonyms: make certain, make doubly sure Related terms: sure of Translations (to verify): ὁράω (horáō) (note: +infinitive) (Ancient Greek), zorgen (Dutch), opletten (Dutch), veenduma (Estonian), kindlustama (Estonian), varmistaa (Finnish), s’assurer (French), sicherstellen (German), sichergehen (German), zusehen (German), assicurarsi (Italian), accertarsi (Italian), sincerarsi (Italian), verificare (Italian), shickyree (Manx), upewniać (english: someone else) [imperfective] (Polish), upewnić (english: someone else) [perfective] (Polish), upewniać się (english: oneself) (Polish), upewnić się (english: oneself) (Polish), certificar-se (Portuguese), asigura (Romanian), удостове́риться (udostovéritʹsja) (Russian), asegurarse de (Spanish), cerciorarse (Spanish), se till (Swedish), säkerställa (Swedish), впевня́тися (vpevnjátysja) [imperfective] (Ukrainian), впе́внитися (vpévnytysja) [perfective] (Ukrainian), переко́нуватися (perekónuvatysja) [imperfective] (Ukrainian), перекона́тися (perekonátysja) [perfective] (Ukrainian), пересві́дчуватися (peresvídčuvatysja) [imperfective] (Ukrainian), пересві́дчитися (peresvídčytysja) [perfective] (Ukrainian)
    Sense id: en-make_sure-en-verb-BFKK3QQ1 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 42 40 14 4 Disambiguation of 'to verify': 5 85 3 7
  3. (now rare) To feel certain of something; to be convinced. Tags: archaic
    Sense id: en-make_sure-en-verb-AK5g1-aX Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 42 40 14 4
  4. (obsolete) To betroth. Tags: obsolete
    Sense id: en-make_sure-en-verb--44VkcHm

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for make sure meaning in All languages combined (8.0kB)

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "makes sure",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "making sure",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made sure",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made sure",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "make<,,made> sure"
      },
      "expansion": "make sure (third-person singular simple present makes sure, present participle making sure, simple past and past participle made sure)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "42 40 14 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I'm going to make sure that I get to the interview on time.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "I expected to be able to get to the interview on time, but I left home earlier than usual just to make sure.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 January 26, “Network News: TSSA opposes ScotRail's booking office proposals”, in RAIL, number 949, page 28",
          "text": "\"We want to do everything we can to make sure everyone has a hassle-free journey.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To ensure that something specific happens, is done etc., or of something happening."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_sure-en-verb-gCb1TaOy",
      "links": [
        [
          "ensure",
          "ensure"
        ],
        [
          "that",
          "that#English"
        ],
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "88 3 3 6",
          "sense": "ensure",
          "word": "to it"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "42 40 14 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "When you leave, make sure you have locked the door behind you.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Make sure of your sources before you publish.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make oneself certain (of something, or that something is the case); to verify, to ascertain."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_sure-en-verb-BFKK3QQ1",
      "links": [
        [
          "certain",
          "certain"
        ],
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ],
        [
          "that",
          "that#English"
        ],
        [
          "verify",
          "verify"
        ],
        [
          "ascertain",
          "ascertain"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "2 60 38 0",
          "word": "sure of"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "2 60 38 0",
          "word": "make certain"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 60 38 0",
          "word": "make doubly sure"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "zorgen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "opletten"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "et",
          "lang": "Estonian",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "veenduma"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "et",
          "lang": "Estonian",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "kindlustama"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "varmistaa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "s’assurer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "sicherstellen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "sichergehen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "zusehen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "note": "+infinitive",
          "roman": "horáō",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "ὁράω"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "assicurarsi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "accertarsi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "sincerarsi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "verificare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "gv",
          "lang": "Manx",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "shickyree"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "pl",
          "english": "someone else",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "upewniać"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "pl",
          "english": "someone else",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "upewnić"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "pl",
          "english": "oneself",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "upewniać się"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "pl",
          "english": "oneself",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "upewnić się"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "certificar-se"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "asigura"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "udostovéritʹsja",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "удостове́риться"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "asegurarse de"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "cerciorarse"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "se till"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "word": "säkerställa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "vpevnjátysja",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "впевня́тися"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "vpévnytysja",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "впе́внитися"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "perekónuvatysja",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "переко́нуватися"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "perekonátysja",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "перекона́тися"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "peresvídčuvatysja",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "пересві́дчуватися"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 85 3 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "peresvídčytysja",
          "sense": "to verify",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "пересві́дчитися"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "42 40 14 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1872, George Eliot, Middlemarch, Book III, chapter 24",
          "text": "‘I put my name to a bill for Fred; it was for a hundred and sixty pounds. He made sure he could meet it himself.’",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1888, Emma Leslie, “Chapter 6”, in The Sunday at Home, Religious Tract Society, page 575",
          "text": "\"You—you said God would bring papa back, if I prayed to Him, and I did, Ann. I've asked God every day, and I've been expecting papa ever since, and when Jack brought the dinner to-day, I made sure he had come at last.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, Judith Saxton, Family Feeling",
          "text": "'You won't stay? Not even for one night? Oh, but, Kate, there's so much to do. I made sure you'd both stay to help me,' Dot said, despair coursing through her at the thought of the solitary tasks ahead.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To feel certain of something; to be convinced."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_sure-en-verb-AK5g1-aX",
      "links": [
        [
          "certain",
          "certain"
        ],
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(now rare) To feel certain of something; to be convinced."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1631 (year of first performance), Thomas Dekker, The Wonder of a Kingdom, act V",
          "text": "Women are borne, but to make fooles of men.\nShe that's made sure to him, she loves not well,\nHer banes are ask'd here, but she wedds in hell;\nParents that match their children gainst their will,\nTeach them not how to live, but how to kill.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To betroth."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_sure-en-verb--44VkcHm",
      "links": [
        [
          "betroth",
          "betroth"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) To betroth."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "make sure"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English verbs"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "makes sure",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "making sure",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made sure",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made sure",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "make<,,made> sure"
      },
      "expansion": "make sure (third-person singular simple present makes sure, present participle making sure, simple past and past participle made sure)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "sure of"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I'm going to make sure that I get to the interview on time.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "I expected to be able to get to the interview on time, but I left home earlier than usual just to make sure.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 January 26, “Network News: TSSA opposes ScotRail's booking office proposals”, in RAIL, number 949, page 28",
          "text": "\"We want to do everything we can to make sure everyone has a hassle-free journey.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To ensure that something specific happens, is done etc., or of something happening."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "ensure",
          "ensure"
        ],
        [
          "that",
          "that#English"
        ],
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "When you leave, make sure you have locked the door behind you.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Make sure of your sources before you publish.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make oneself certain (of something, or that something is the case); to verify, to ascertain."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "certain",
          "certain"
        ],
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ],
        [
          "that",
          "that#English"
        ],
        [
          "verify",
          "verify"
        ],
        [
          "ascertain",
          "ascertain"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with rare senses",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1872, George Eliot, Middlemarch, Book III, chapter 24",
          "text": "‘I put my name to a bill for Fred; it was for a hundred and sixty pounds. He made sure he could meet it himself.’",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1888, Emma Leslie, “Chapter 6”, in The Sunday at Home, Religious Tract Society, page 575",
          "text": "\"You—you said God would bring papa back, if I prayed to Him, and I did, Ann. I've asked God every day, and I've been expecting papa ever since, and when Jack brought the dinner to-day, I made sure he had come at last.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, Judith Saxton, Family Feeling",
          "text": "'You won't stay? Not even for one night? Oh, but, Kate, there's so much to do. I made sure you'd both stay to help me,' Dot said, despair coursing through her at the thought of the solitary tasks ahead.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To feel certain of something; to be convinced."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "certain",
          "certain"
        ],
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(now rare) To feel certain of something; to be convinced."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with obsolete senses",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1631 (year of first performance), Thomas Dekker, The Wonder of a Kingdom, act V",
          "text": "Women are borne, but to make fooles of men.\nShe that's made sure to him, she loves not well,\nHer banes are ask'd here, but she wedds in hell;\nParents that match their children gainst their will,\nTeach them not how to live, but how to kill.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To betroth."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "betroth",
          "betroth"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) To betroth."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "make certain"
    },
    {
      "word": "make doubly sure"
    },
    {
      "sense": "ensure",
      "word": "to it"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "zorgen"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "opletten"
    },
    {
      "code": "et",
      "lang": "Estonian",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "veenduma"
    },
    {
      "code": "et",
      "lang": "Estonian",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "kindlustama"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "varmistaa"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "s’assurer"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "sicherstellen"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "sichergehen"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "zusehen"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "note": "+infinitive",
      "roman": "horáō",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "ὁράω"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "assicurarsi"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "accertarsi"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "sincerarsi"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "verificare"
    },
    {
      "code": "gv",
      "lang": "Manx",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "shickyree"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "english": "someone else",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "upewniać"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "english": "someone else",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "upewnić"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "english": "oneself",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "upewniać się"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "english": "oneself",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "upewnić się"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "certificar-se"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "asigura"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "udostovéritʹsja",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "удостове́риться"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "asegurarse de"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "cerciorarse"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "se till"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "word": "säkerställa"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "vpevnjátysja",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "впевня́тися"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "vpévnytysja",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "впе́внитися"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "perekónuvatysja",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "переко́нуватися"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "perekonátysja",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "перекона́тися"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "peresvídčuvatysja",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "пересві́дчуватися"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "peresvídčytysja",
      "sense": "to verify",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "пересві́дчитися"
    }
  ],
  "word": "make sure"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-30 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (210104c and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.