make sure

7 synonyms for make sure, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Phrase — To take action to confirm that something is true or that something happens as intended.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

ensure check confirm

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

verify

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

see to it be sure to don't forget to

Synonyms by Meaning

1. phrase

To take action to confirm that something is true or that something happens as intended.

“Make sure the door is locked before you leave.”

ensure check confirm verify see to it

2. phrase

Used before a clause to give an instruction that must not be overlooked.

“Make sure you eat something before the flight.”

be sure to don't forget to

How to use make sure

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

make sure to make sure that just to make sure make absolutely sure

Neutral and very common in both speech and writing; "ensure" is preferred in formal documents.

Frequently asked questions

Is it "make sure" or "make sureness"?

Only "make sure" is correct. "Sure" works as an adjective here, and there is no noun form used in the phrase.

What is the difference between "make sure" and "ensure"?

They mean the same thing, but "make sure" is the everyday spoken form and "ensure" is more formal or written. In a report you would write "ensure the data is backed up"; to a colleague you would say "make sure you back up the data".

Should "make sure" be followed by "that"?

Both are fine. "Make sure that the file is saved" and "make sure the file is saved" are equally correct, and the version without "that" is more common in speech.

People also searched

check ensure confirm verify

Nearby words

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