# to be sure

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/to-be-sure
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Certainly, undoubtedly, admittedly, surely.

## Examples

- It is a difficult task, to be sure.
- The project was expensive and took a long time to be sure, but the final results were excellent.
- The evidence against the suspect is circumstantial, to be sure, yet it remains compelling enough to warrant a formal investigation by the authorities.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.