insure

/ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈʃʊr/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈshu̇r -ˈshər-/ (ame, mw)

insure — 動詞

  • insure,present simple I / you / we / they
  • insurepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • insures,he / she / it
  • insureshe / she / it
  • insured,past simple
  • insuredpast simple
  • insuring,-ing form
  • insuring-ing form

1. to regularly pay a company so that, if your property is damaged, stolen, or you

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

投保；買保險

向保險公司付費以獲得風險保障

to regularly pay a company so that, if your property is damaged, stolen, or you are hurt or die, the company gives you a sum of money

例句

Daichi insured his new bicycle against theft before he even rode it home.

Daichi 在騎新腳踏車回家之前就先為它投保了失竊險。

insure + [object] + against + [risk type]

The shopkeeper decided to insure the building for twice its market value.

那位店主決定以市價的兩倍為這棟建築物投保。

insure + [object] + for + [amount]

同義詞
  • cover

    more informal; used in everyday insurance talk ('Does this policy cover flood damage?')

  • protect

    broader meaning; not limited to financial insurance

  • underwrite

    formal and from the provider's side, not the customer's

文法句型

insure + noun phrase

insure + noun phrase + against + risk

insure + noun phrase + for + amount

be insured

用法筆記

The object is typically the person, property, or item being protected. The preposition 'against' introduces the risk or danger; 'for' introduces the sum of money the company will pay.

常見錯誤

❌I insured from fire damage.
✅I insured against fire damage.
💡use 'against', not 'from', to state the risk covered.
❌He insured his life for his family.
✅He insured his life for his family's benefit' or 'He took out life insurance for his family.
💡'insure for' introduces a monetary amount, not a person.

2. to sell an insurance policy to someone, agreeing to pay them money if something

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

承保；擔保

保險公司接受投保並承諾理賠

to sell an insurance policy to someone, agreeing to pay them money if something bad happens to their property, health, or life

例句

The company refused to insure the old warehouse because of its faulty wiring.

那家公司因為老舊倉庫的電線有問題而拒絕承保。

refuse to insure — rejection of risk

Several firms compete to insure professional athletes against career-ending injuries.

好幾家公司相互競爭，為職業運動員承保生涯終結傷害險。

insure + [someone] + against + [risk]

同義詞
  • underwrite

    formal term used in the insurance industry for agreeing to accept the risk

  • cover

    informal; 'Does your policy cover storm damage?'

文法句型

insure + someone + against + risk

insure + something

be insured by + company

用法筆記

The subject of this sense is the insurance company or broker, not the customer. For the customer's perspective, use sense 1. The object is the person or thing being protected.

常見錯誤

❌My bank insured me a good rate.
✅My bank offered to insure my car at a good rate.
💡'insure' takes the person or item as a direct object, not the price.

3. to take steps ahead of time so that a particular outcome or situation definitely

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

確保；保證

採取必要措施以確保事情發生

to take steps ahead of time so that a particular outcome or situation definitely comes about

例句

The team double-checked the safety ropes to insure that no climber would get hurt.

團隊仔細檢查了安全繩索，以確保不會有登山者受傷。

insure + that-clause for certainty

Ilan called the airline twice to insure his seat on the morning flight.

Ilan 打了兩次電話給航空公司，以確保他在早班機上的座位沒問題。

insure + noun phrase (direct object)

同義詞
  • ensure

    standard, more common word for this meaning; preferred in British English

  • guarantee

    stronger; implies a promise or certainty of outcome

  • make sure

    informal; everyday spoken equivalent

反義詞
  • risk

    to put something in a position where failure is possible

  • jeopardize

    to put something in danger of failing or being lost

文法句型

insure + that-clause

insure + noun phrase

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with 'ensure' (meaning 'make certain'). In American English, 'insure' is sometimes used this way in formal writing, though 'ensure' is far more common. In British English, 'insure' is almost never used for this meaning — use 'ensure' instead. Stick to 'ensure' in everyday writing to avoid confusion.

常見錯誤

❌I insured that the door was locked.
✅I ensured that the door was locked.
💡'ensure' is the standard and clearer choice for the 'make certain' meaning in most contexts.
❌Please insure you bring your ID.
✅Please ensure you bring your ID.
💡'ensure' is preferred in instructions and announcements.