# surest

/ˈʃʊɹɪst/ (US) · /ʃˈɔːɹəst/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/surest
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

most certain or most likely to work or be true. You use it when you compare choices and pick the safest one.

For teachers: most certain, confident, or reliable among alternatives; least open to doubt. Superlative of 'sure'.

## Examples

- This is the surest way to get to the station.
- For a job interview, the surest approach is to arrive early and bring extra copies of your CV.
- Among all the routes the team considered, the coastal road remained the surest bet, offering stable weather and reliable fuel stops even in winter.

## Synonyms

safest

## Antonyms

riskiest

## Pitfalls

- Not "more surest" but "surest" — Surest is already superlative and does not take 'more'.

## Usage notes

- Superlative of 'sure'; typically preceded by 'the' and followed by a noun or 'to'-infinitive.

---

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.