Meaning
- Verb: To arrange for compensation in case of loss, damage, illness, or death, usually through a contract with an insurance company.
In American English, insure is often used interchangeably with ensure (to make certain), though traditionally insure relates to financial protection.
Grammar and Usage
-
Verb (transitive):
- "to insure sth" → to protect financially against risk.
- "to insure sb against sth" → to provide someone with insurance coverage.
Typical structures:
- insure sth against loss/damage
- insure sb against accidents
- insure your house/car/life
Common Phrases
- insure against loss
- insure property
- insure one’s life
- fully insured
- insure for a large amount
Collocations
- Verb + insure: properly insure, fully insure, legally insure
- Nouns: insure a car, insure a house, insure property, insure goods
- Prepositions: insure against fire/theft/accidents
Examples
- You should insure your car against theft.
- The company insured its workers against accidents.
- He insured his house for half a million dollars.
- We need to insure our trip before we travel abroad.
- The painting was insured against damage during transportation.
- She insured her life to protect her family financially.
- Businesses often insure their property against natural disasters.
- The airline insures passengers against baggage loss.
Synonyms or Related
- cover, protect, guarantee, safeguard, underwrite.