reassure
C1Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To say or do something that removes someone's doubts or fears; to make someone feel less worried.
To restore confidence; to provide comfort or psychological support; to affirm positively in a way that alleviates anxiety.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a reaction to existing anxiety or doubt. The object is typically a person, not the fear itself (e.g., 'reassure someone' not *'reassure the fear').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally common and standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral-to-positive connotation in both; associated with care, authority, or professionalism.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English according to some corpora, but widely used in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] reassure [Object] (that-clause)[Subject] reassure [Object] about [Something][Subject] reassure [Object] of [Something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Words of reassurance”
- “A reassuring presence”
- “A reassuring thought”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to calm stakeholders, e.g., 'The CEO reassured investors about the company's stability.'
Academic
Used in psychology, healthcare, and management literature regarding support and communication.
Everyday
Common in personal contexts, e.g., reassuring a friend before a job interview.
Technical
Not highly technical, but used in medical contexts (reassuring a patient) and crisis communication.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The doctor tried to reassure her about the minor procedure.
- The government issued a statement to reassure the public.
American English
- His calm demeanor reassured everyone in the room.
- The data should reassure investors concerned about volatility.
adverb
British English
- He nodded reassuringly.
- She spoke softly and reassuringly.
American English
- The officer smiled reassuringly at the lost child.
- The report concluded reassuringly.
adjective
British English
- She gave him a reassuring smile.
- The test results were highly reassuring.
American English
- He spoke in a reassuring tone.
- The update from the team was very reassuring.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Mum reassured me before my first day at school.
- The teacher reassured the nervous student.
- The pilot's announcement reassured the passengers during the turbulence.
- Can you reassure him that everything is going according to plan?
- The inspector's report failed to reassure local residents about the safety of the building.
- She sought to reassure her colleagues that the merger would not lead to job losses.
- The central bank intervened to reassure jittery markets and stabilise the currency.
- His meticulously researched presentation served to reassure even the most sceptical board members.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE- (again) + ASSURE (to make certain). You 'assure' someone to make them certain, you 'REassure' them to make them certain AGAIN after doubt has crept in.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PHYSICAL SUPPORT/PROTECTION (e.g., 'bolster confidence', 'shore up doubts').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'reassure' (успокаивать, заверять) and 're-insure' (перестраховать).
- Avoid direct calque 're- + assure' as it sounds unnatural.
- The object is the person, not the emotion: 'He reassured me' (Он заверил меня/успокоил меня), not *'He reassured my fear'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'I reassured my fear.' Correct: 'I reassured myself about my fear.' or 'I allayed my fear.'
- Incorrect: *'He reassured to me that...' Correct: 'He reassured me that...'
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'calm down' or 'don't worry' might be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'reassure' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Assure' means to tell someone something positively to dispel doubts (initial guarantee). 'Reassure' implies restoring confidence that has been lost or diminished (a second or subsequent assurance).
Yes, though less common, it is grammatically correct and used, e.g., 'I reassured myself by checking the facts again.'
It is standard in both formal and neutral registers. In very casual speech, phrases like 'don't worry' or 'it's fine' might be more frequent.
The most common error is using it with a direct object that is the fear/anxiety instead of the person experiencing it (e.g., *'reassure his fear'). The correct pattern is 'reassure [person] about/of [fear].'