insure

To insure something is to provide financial protection for a large purchase or something that has a great value. In case of loss or damage, an insurance company or an insurer pays money to the person who insured the thing that was valuable.

• Jennifer insured her house for over $300,000.
• You should insure your car with collision insurance if it’s new.
• John’s guitar was insured for over $2000. When it was stolen, the insurance company paid him for his loss. (The verb "insure" in this sentence uses the passive voice.)
• They can’t insure their house because of the location. It’s in a flood plain.

The noun form of this word is "insurance."

• What kind of insurance do you have on your car?
• By 2014 all Americans need to have some kind of health insurance. It’s the law.
• No amount of insurance could possibly cover the loss of their home after the fire. Many items were personal and irreplaceable.

If your home is destroyed by a tornado, your loss should be covered by insurance.

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This page was first published on November 8, 2012. It was updated on May 9, 2015.