insure
/in'ʃuə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (Transitive):
- To arrange for compensation in the event of damage, loss, or injury; to provide or obtain insurance for: To contract with a company to pay premiums in exchange for financial protection against specified risks.
- To make certain; to ensure or guarantee: To take measures to make a particular outcome sure or secure.
Verb (Intransitive):
- To underwrite or issue insurance policies: To engage in the business of providing insurance (often used in a professional context).
- To take out an insurance policy: To contract for insurance coverage for oneself or one's property.
Usage Examples
- Verb (Transitive - Financial Protection):
- We must insure the house against fire and flood.
- The company insures its employees with a comprehensive health plan.
- Verb (Transitive - To Make Certain):
- Careful planning will insure the success of the project.
- These measures are designed to insure your safety.
- Verb (Intransitive):
- As a broker, his job is to insure against various risks. (professional context)
- It is wise to insure against major financial losses.
Advanced Usage
- "To insure against": To protect oneself financially from a specific risk by taking out an insurance policy.
- You should insure against theft when traveling with expensive jewelry.
- "To insure someone/something for [amount]": To provide insurance coverage up to a specified monetary value.
- The painting is insured for one million dollars.
Variants and Related Words
- Insurance (n): The act, system, or business of providing financial protection against loss or harm.
- He works in the insurance industry.
- Insurer (n): A person or company that underwrites an insurance risk; the party in an insurance contract that promises to pay compensation.
- The insurer denied the claim.
- Insurable (adj): Capable of being insured against; eligible for insurance.
- The condition of the property made it insurable only at a high premium.
Synonyms
- Ensure/Assure: To make sure or certain. (Note: In careful usage, "insure" is preferred for financial contexts, while "ensure" means to make certain, and "assure" means to remove doubt from a person's mind.)
- Underwrite: To accept financial responsibility for; to guarantee financial support.
- Protect: To keep safe from harm or loss.
- Guarantee: To provide a formal assurance or promise.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Insure against: (See "Advanced Usage" above). This is the primary and most common phrasal construction.
- It is difficult to insure against all possible business interruptions.
Related Idioms
- Better (to be) safe than sorry: This proverb relates to the preventative principle behind insuring, encouraging precautionary measures.
- I know insurance is expensive, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
- A safety net: While not containing the word "insure," this idiom describes a similar concept of protection against hardship, often provided by insurance.
- Health insurance acts as a vital financial safety net.
Verb
- take out insurance for
- protect by insurance
- The insurance won't cover this
- make certain of
- This nest egg will ensure a nice retirement for us
- Preparation will guarantee success!
- 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