surefire

adjective

sure·​fire ˈshu̇r-ˈfī(-ə)r How to pronounce surefire (audio)
ˈshər-
: certain to get successful or expected results
a surefire recipe

Examples of surefire in a Sentence

The movie is a surefire hit with teenagers. There is no surefire way to predict the outcome.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On one of those chances, credit Kevin Korchinski, who rode Ovechkin’s hip on what looked like a surefire backdoor opportunity for the record-breaker. Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025 Instead of urging vaccination against the disease, an almost surefire way to prevent infection, Kennedy has blamed malnourishment for the outbreak, promoted unproven treatments for measles, and falsely claimed in one Fox News interview that the vaccine is ineffective and even dangerous. Kff Health News, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2025 This means recognizing that diverse perspectives fuel innovation—and ignoring that is a surefire way to stay stuck. Nono Bokete, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 To end on a neat twist — while texting journalists is a surefire way to breach security, the Signal chat itself was protected from outside interference by its encryption. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surefire

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surefire was in 1846

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Cite this Entry

“Surefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surefire. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

surefire

adjective
sure·​fire ˌshu̇r-ˌfī(ə)r How to pronounce surefire (audio)
: certain to get results
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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