sure up

USAGE SUMMARY

"sure up" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to make something more certain or secure. Example: The company needs to sure up its financial situation before investors will be interested. The leader worked to sure up the team's confidence before the big game. It's important to sure up your research before presenting it to your colleagues.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Sure, "up all night" for them no longer means drinking Zima and throwing up in a friend's bathroom as it did twenty years ago.

Huffington Post

But despite the efforts of Conservative Central Office the party struggled to sure up its vote against an insurgent Ukip challenge that successfully squeezed the Labour vote.

Independent

The former Spurs man has brought in tall Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates on loan to sure up the backline, while another South American, Ricky Alverez, has been added to the midfield.

Independent

"I'm sure up in New York, everyone thinks us Alabamians are so backward," said the Rev. Bob Kurtz, a local pastor and coordinator of the festival, with a chuckle.

The New York Times

Jazz FM was another station with double digit year on year gains – nothing to do with this we are sure – up 13.9% to 564,000, while Planet Rock had 861,000 listeners, up 8% on the previous year.

The Guardian

"Chances are there will be a second round, although it was not so sure up to a couple of days ago, but now it looks like there will be a second round," Mr. Jawad said Wednesday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"But it sure ups the odds substantially".

The New York Times - Magazine

An £800m Home Office project to sure-up UK border controls has run four years over schedule and failed to deliver "value for money" for taxpayers, the spending watchdog has said.

Independent

Now, more than ever before, TechCrunch needs a strong editorial figure to rebut our critics, sure-up the wall between our editorial and financial interests and navigate our ship through the murky ethical waters ahead.

TechCrunch

Now, his only source of income was as a part time night watchman at a construction supply store, where those who had access to American dollars could buy expensive lumber and other goods to sure-up their aging homes.

Huffington Post

Likewise, stakeholders could influence the selection and weighting of evidence regarding costs and effects so as to sure-up the position of options for disinvestment (e.g. broadening inclusion criteria, equal weighting for low- and high-level evidence).

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sure up" when you want to convey the idea of making something more certain, secure, or stable. It is suitable when discussing plans, defenses, or anything needing reinforcement.

Common error

Avoid using "sure up" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "fortify" or "consolidate" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sure up" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. It is used to describe the action of making something more secure, stable, or certain. As Ludwig AI indicates, it follows standard grammar rules and is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

27%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sure up" is a phrasal verb meaning to make something more secure or certain. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's commonly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, with a neutral register. While acceptable, it may be preferable to use more formal synonyms in academic writing. Consider alternatives like "reinforce", "strengthen", or "bolster" for a more professional tone. Remember to avoid overuse in highly formal contexts and consider more sophisticated options to maintain a professional tone in academic or formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shore up

Emphasizes providing support to prevent collapse or weakening; focuses on structural integrity.

bolster

Highlights strengthening or reinforcing something, often in a non-physical sense, like confidence or morale.

reinforce

Focuses on adding extra strength or support to something already in place.

strengthen

A more general term for making something stronger or more robust.

secure

Implies making something safe and protected from threats or risks.

fortify

Suggests building defenses or adding protection against potential attacks or weaknesses.

consolidate

Focuses on making something more solid, stable, or unified.

cement

Implies establishing something firmly and permanently.

underpin

Highlights providing a solid foundation or basis for something.

buttress

Suggests providing external support to reinforce a structure or argument.

FAQs

How can I use "sure up" in a sentence?

You can use "sure up" to describe making something more secure or certain. For example, "The team needs to "shore up" its defenses" or "The company is working to "sure up" its financial position".

What's a good alternative to "sure up"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "reinforce", "strengthen", or "bolster" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "sure up" appropriate for formal writing?

While "sure up" is generally acceptable, it might be better to use more formal alternatives such as "fortify" or "consolidate" in academic or professional contexts.

What does it mean to "sure up" something?

To "sure up" something means to make it more secure, stable, or certain. It's often used in situations where something needs reinforcement or to be made less vulnerable.