verb

ensuring

in-SHOOR-ing

Ensuring (verb) means present participle of ensure: making certain that something happens or is the case. Example: “The rota is designed with the aim of ensuring nobody works two nights in a row.”

verb

Present participle of ensure: making certain that something happens or is the case.

"The rota is designed with the aim of ensuring nobody works two nights in a row."

"Ensuring food safety is the manager's responsibility."

How to Use Ensuring

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMaking sure something happens.

When to use it

Neutral; heavy use in policy, corporate and job-description writing can make prose feel bureaucratic.

Memory tip

In American English, insure is sometimes used where British English writes ensure, but the reverse never happens.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

ensuring vs insuring ensure vs assure

Common pairings

thereby ensuring ensuring compliance ensuring that aimed at ensuring

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The rota is designed with the aim of _____ nobody works two nights in a row.

Etymology

From ensure, from Anglo-Norman enseurer, ultimately related to Latin securus "safe, secure".

Origin: French

Synonyms

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making sure guaranteeing securing safeguarding

Related Words

getting conservation defending gaining preservation retaining Locking safeguarding

Rhymes for ensuring

during curing luring Turing touring pouring scouring alluring figuring enduring assuring measuring

See all rhymes for ensuring →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ensuring, insuring and assuring?

Ensuring means making certain something happens; insuring means buying financial cover against a risk; assuring means telling someone something confidently so they stop worrying. "Ensuring the roof is sound" is not the same as "insuring the roof".

Is "ensuring that" or "ensuring" correct?

Both are correct. "Ensuring that everyone is paid" is slightly more formal and can be clearer in long sentences; dropping "that" is perfectly standard in ordinary writing.

Can ensuring take a person as its object?

Not in modern English. You ensure a result, not a person: write "ensuring that staff are trained", not "ensuring staff of training".

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