insure

insure — verb

1. to regularly pay a company so that, if your property is damaged, stolen, or you

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to regularly pay a company so that, if your property is damaged, stolen, or you are hurt or die, the company gives you a sum of money

Example

Daichi insured his new bicycle against theft before he even rode it home.

insure + [object] + against + [risk type]

The shopkeeper decided to insure the building for twice its market value.

insure + [object] + for + [amount]

Common collocations
  • insure against
  • insure for
  • insure with
  • insure adequately
  • insure up to
Synonyms
  • cover

    more informal; used in everyday insurance talk ('Does this policy cover flood damage?')

  • protect

    broader meaning; not limited to financial insurance

  • underwrite

    formal and from the provider's side, not the customer's

Grammar Patterns

insure + noun phrase

insure + noun phrase + against + risk

insure + noun phrase + for + amount

be insured

Usage Note

The object is typically the person, property, or item being protected. The preposition 'against' introduces the risk or danger; 'for' introduces the sum of money the company will pay.

Common Mistakes

I insured from fire damage.
I insured against fire damage.
use 'against', not 'from', to state the risk covered.
He insured his life for his family.
He insured his life for his family's benefit' or 'He took out life insurance for his family.
'insure for' introduces a monetary amount, not a person.

2. to sell an insurance policy to someone, agreeing to pay them money if something

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to sell an insurance policy to someone, agreeing to pay them money if something bad happens to their property, health, or life

Example

The company refused to insure the old warehouse because of its faulty wiring.

refuse to insure — rejection of risk

Several firms compete to insure professional athletes against career-ending injuries.

insure + [someone] + against + [risk]

Common collocations
  • insure against
  • insure at competitive rates
  • insure property
  • insure goods in transit
  • insure valuables
Synonyms
  • underwrite

    formal term used in the insurance industry for agreeing to accept the risk

  • cover

    informal; 'Does your policy cover storm damage?'

Grammar Patterns

insure + someone + against + risk

insure + something

be insured by + company

Usage Note

The subject of this sense is the insurance company or broker, not the customer. For the customer's perspective, use sense 1. The object is the person or thing being protected.

Common Mistakes

My bank insured me a good rate.
My bank offered to insure my car at a good rate.
'insure' takes the person or item as a direct object, not the price.

3. to take steps ahead of time so that a particular outcome or situation definitely

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to take steps ahead of time so that a particular outcome or situation definitely comes about

Example

The team double-checked the safety ropes to insure that no climber would get hurt.

insure + that-clause for certainty

Ilan called the airline twice to insure his seat on the morning flight.

insure + noun phrase (direct object)

Common collocations
  • insure that
  • insure against failure
  • insure success
  • help insure
  • help to insure
Synonyms
  • ensure

    standard, more common word for this meaning; preferred in British English

  • guarantee

    stronger; implies a promise or certainty of outcome

  • make sure

    informal; everyday spoken equivalent

Antonyms
  • risk

    to put something in a position where failure is possible

  • jeopardize

    to put something in danger of failing or being lost

Grammar Patterns

insure + that-clause

insure + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense overlaps with 'ensure' (meaning 'make certain'). In American English, 'insure' is sometimes used this way in formal writing, though 'ensure' is far more common. In British English, 'insure' is almost never used for this meaning — use 'ensure' instead. Stick to 'ensure' in everyday writing to avoid confusion.

Common Mistakes

I insured that the door was locked.
I ensured that the door was locked.
'ensure' is the standard and clearer choice for the 'make certain' meaning in most contexts.
Please insure you bring your ID.
Please ensure you bring your ID.
'ensure' is preferred in instructions and announcements.

Word family

  • insurance
    nounB1
  • insured
    adjectiveB2
  • insured
    nounC1
  • insurer
    nounB2
  • insurable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Insure' (sense 1) specifically means paying a company for financial protection. 'Cover' is the most common informal equivalent — people say 'Does my policy cover water damage?' in everyday conversation. 'Protect' is much broader: you can protect your phone with a case, your health with vitamins, or your data with a password — none of which involve insurance companies. 'Underwrite' is the professional term used by insurers themselves, meaning to accept financial liability for a risk. For example: 'Lloyd's agreed to underwrite the shipping contract.' If you are talking about buying insurance as a regular person, use 'insure' or 'cover'. If you are discussing the insurance industry, 'underwrite' is appropriate. 'Protect' is best reserved for non-financial safeguarding.

insure ↗cover ↗protect ↗underwrite

Common collocations

Nouns

  • insurance company
  • insurance policy
  • insurance premium
  • life insurance
  • health insurance
  • car insurance
  • home insurance
  • travel insurance

Adverbs

  • fully insure
  • adequately insure
  • properly insure
  • cheaply insure

Phrases

  • insure against loss
  • insure peace of mind
  • insure for the future
  • insure at a competitive rate

Prepositions

  • insure against
  • insure for
  • insure with

Etymology

Anglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

'Insure' entered English from the Anglo-French word 'enseurer', formed by 'en-' (meaning 'to make') and 'seur' (meaning 'sure'). It originally meant 'to make something certain'. In the 1600s, it became the standard word for financial protection arrangements, especially in marine commerce. 'Insure' and 'ensure' are 'doublets' — they share the same historical origin but evolved different meanings over time.