What does reassure mean?
Reassure means to restore a person's confidence, comfort, or sense of security. It is especially used when someone is worried, uncertain, or recovering from a shock, as in reassuring someone that a situation is safe or that a problem will be resolved. The word often appears with a clause beginning with "that," which explains what gives the person confidence: "She reassured him that the delay was harmless." Reassure is not synonymous with guarantee in every context. Assure generally means to make a promise or guarantee, while reassure focuses on the emotional effect on someone. Although reassurance is usually directed toward a person, it can also describe information or actions that restore confidence, such as a reassuring update or a reassuring result. The term is common in everyday conversation as well as in professional, medical, and public communication.
verbTo give someone confidence or comfort, especially by removing doubt or anxiety. It can also mean to make someone feel secure or positive again.
- To restore someone's confidence or peace of mind by removing doubt or anxiety.
- To make someone feel safe, secure, or positive again.
"The doctor reassured the patient that the symptoms were nothing to worry about."
"Her calm explanation reassured the anxious customers."
"The coach reassured the team that they had played well despite the early mistakes."
Reassurance is confidence restored: the prefix re- suggests giving someone back the certainty they had lost.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reassure come from?
Reassure was formed in the early 19th century by combining the prefix re-, meaning again, with assure, from Old French aseurer, ultimately from Latin ad- and securus, meaning safe or secure. The Latin root also appears in assure, assurance, secure, and ensure. In reassurance, the prefix conveys renewed confidence or the restoration of a person's peace of mind.
Related word forms
How reassure is actually used
The word is neutral to formal in register and is commonly followed by a person as the object, often with a clause explaining the reason for the reassurance: "reassure him that...". It differs from assure, which expresses a guarantee rather than the restoration of confidence.
Easily confused with reassure
Reassure primarily restores someone's confidence or peace of mind, whereas assure someone means to guarantee or promise that something is true.