Assure vs. Ensure — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
"Assure" means to remove doubts or fears and instill confidence, usually by making a promise or guarantee. "Ensure" means to make certain that something will occur or be the case.
Difference Between Assure and Ensure
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Key Differences
"Assure" is a verb that's often used to remove doubts or fears from a person's mind. When you assure someone, you're providing them with a sense of certainty or confidence. "Ensure," on the other hand, doesn't necessarily involve human emotions but is more about making certain that a specific condition or event takes place.
In a sentence using "assure," you will usually find a direct object that is a person or group of people, as in "I assure you that everything will be okay." In contrast, "ensure" is generally followed by a condition or event, such as "This medicine will ensure your quick recovery."
Grammatically, both "assure" and "ensure" are verbs, but they interact with different types of objects. "Assure" almost always has a human object, while "ensure" typically focuses on a situation, condition, or event. Both words are used to talk about making things certain, but they're used in different contexts.
People often confuse "assure" and "ensure" because they both seem to convey certainty. However, "assure" is more personal, often used to instill confidence in someone, while "ensure" is impersonal and more about guaranteeing that a particular outcome will happen.
Comparison Chart
Object Type
Usually a person
Usually an event or condition
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Emotional Element
Involves human emotions
Lacks emotional component
Grammatical Role
Verb
Verb
Context
Personal assurance
Certainty of conditions/events
Typical Sentence Use
"I assure you that..."
"To ensure that..."
Compare with Definitions
Assure
To remove doubts or fears from someone's mind.
I assured her that the plan would work.
Ensure
To make certain that something will occur.
She took steps to ensure her safety.
Assure
To inform positively, as to remove doubt
Assured us that the train would be on time.
Ensure
To confirm or validate.
The tests ensure the product's quality.
Assure
To cause to feel sure
A gesture that assured her of his devotion.
Ensure
To bring about or give rise to.
Their strategy ensured victory.
Assure
To give confidence to; reassure.
Ensure
To secure or guarantee.
This policy ensures your property against damage.
Assure
To make certain; ensure
"Nothing in history assures the success of our civilization" (Herbert J. Muller).
Ensure
To make sure or certain.
He checked to ensure the door was locked.
Assure
To make safe or secure
"We would rather forgo certain benefits in order to be assured against certain evils" (Alfred E. Smith).
Ensure
Ensure is an American brand of nutritional supplements and meal replacements manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. A 237-ml (8-fl oz) bottle of Ensure Original contains 220 calories, six grams of fat, 15 grams of sugar, and nine grams of protein.
Assure
Chiefly British To insure, as against loss.
Ensure
To make sure or certain; insure
Our precautions ensured our safety. See Usage Note at assure.
Assure
(transitive) To make sure and secure; ensure.
Ensure
(transitive) To make a pledge to (someone); to promise, guarantee (someone of something); to assure.
Assure
To give (someone) confidence in the trustworthiness of (something).
I assure you that the program will work smoothly when we demonstrate it to the client.
He assured of his commitment to her happiness.
Ensure
(intransitive) To make sure or certain of something (usually some future event or condition).
I use an alarm clock to ensure that I get up on time.
Assure
(obsolete) To guarantee, promise (to do something).
Ensure
To make sure. See Insure.
Assure
(transitive) To reassure.
Ensure
To betroth.
Assure
To make sure or certain; to render confident by a promise, declaration, or other evidence.
His promise that thy seed shall bruise our foe . . . Assures me that the bitterness of deathIs past, and we shall live.
Ensure
Make certain of;
This nest egg will ensure a nice retirement for us
Preparation will guarantee success!
Assure
To declare to, solemnly; to assert to (any one) with the design of inspiring belief or confidence.
I dare assure thee that no enemyShall ever take alive the noble Brutus.
Ensure
Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something;
He verified that the valves were closed
See that the curtains are closed
Control the quality of the product
Assure
To confirm; to make certain or secure.
And it shall be assured to him.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
Assure
To affiance; to betroth.
Assure
To insure; to covenant to indemnify for loss, or to pay a specified sum at death. See Insure.
Assure
Make certain of;
This nest egg will ensure a nice retirement for us
Preparation will guarantee success!
Assure
Inform positively and with certainty and confidence;
I tell you that man is a crook!
Assure
Assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence;
I assured him that traveling to Cambodia was safe
Assure
Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something;
He verified that the valves were closed
See that the curtains are closed
Control the quality of the product
Assure
Cause to feel sure; give reassurance to;
The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe
Assure
Make a promise or commitment
Assure
To make someone feel confident about something.
He assured us of his loyalty.
Assure
To guarantee or promise something.
The company assures a refund if not satisfied.
Assure
To provide assurance in a formal manner.
The lawyer assured us that the documents were legitimate.
Assure
To state confidently.
She assured us that she would finish on time.
Common Curiosities
Can Assure and Ensure be used interchangeably?
No, they are used in different contexts; "assure" for human emotions, "ensure" for conditions/events.
Is Ensure a Verb?
Yes, "ensure" is a verb.
Does Assure Involve Emotion?
Yes, "assure" often involves reassuring someone emotionally.
What is the opposite of Assure?
The opposite could be "doubt" or "disbelieve."
What is the opposite of Ensure?
The opposite could be "risk" or "jeopardize."
What does Assure mean?
Assure means to remove doubts or fears and instill confidence.
What does Ensure mean?
Ensure means to make certain that something will occur.
Is Assure a Verb?
Yes, "assure" is a verb.
What is the object for Ensure?
Usually an event or condition.
Who is the typical object for Assure?
Usually a person or people.
Is Assure Formal?
Assure can be both formal and informal depending on the context.
Is Ensure Emotional?
No, "ensure" lacks an emotional component.
Can Ensure have multiple meanings?
Primarily means to make certain, but can also mean to guarantee in some contexts.
Is Ensure Formal?
Ensure is generally formal and often found in written documents.
Can Assure have multiple meanings?
Primarily used for providing confidence, but the context may add nuance.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
