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Meaning & use

feel secure

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/fiːl sɪˈkjʊə/
US/fiːl sɪˈkjʊr/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiom

    to feel safe from danger or harm, either physically or emotionally.

    Grammar: Often used with 'in' + place or situation: feel secure in your home.

    Patterns

    • feel secure in something
    • feel secure about something

    After the new lock was fitted, she felt secure in her apartment.

    He doesn't feel secure walking alone at night.

    The children felt secure with their parents nearby.

  2. phraseidiom

    to feel confident and free from worry about your future or position.

    Grammar: Often used with 'about' + noun or 'in' + job/relationship: feel secure about your finances.

    Patterns

    • feel secure about something
    • feel secure in a job
    • feel secure in a relationship

    She feels secure about her job because the company is doing well.

    He doesn't feel secure in his relationship and often worries.

    After saving money, they felt secure about their retirement.

Common combinations

feel secure in your home
With the alarm system, they finally felt secure in their home.
feel secure about the future
Having a steady income helps me feel secure about the future.
feel financially secure
After paying off the loan, they felt financially secure.
feel secure in a relationship
Trust helps you feel secure in a relationship.

Synonyms and how they differ

feel safe
Feel safe is more about physical safety; feel secure can also mean emotional or financial confidence.
feel confident
Feel confident is about belief in your abilities; feel secure is about freedom from worry or danger.
be reassured
Be reassured means someone has comforted you; feel secure is a more general state of safety.

Opposites

feel insecurefeel unsafefeel vulnerable

Word family

security noun
The state of being safe or protected.
securely adverb
In a safe or firmly fixed way.
secure adjective
Safe or protected; also, firmly fixed.

Commonly confused: feel secure or feel safe?

feel secure vs feel safe

'Feel safe' usually means free from physical danger; 'feel secure' can also mean free from worry or having confidence.

Practice

Choose the best completion: After the promotion, she felt secure ______ her job.

Make it your own

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