verb
Common
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
1
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."
"She double-checked every door before leaving, ensuring the shop was properly locked for the night."
How to use ensuring
Learner’s notesIn 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".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ensuring
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".
What is the meaning of ensuring?
"ensuring" (verb) means present participle of ensure: making certain that something happens or is the case.
