reassuring: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal. Common in professional, medical, and personal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “reassuring” mean?
Making someone feel less worried, anxious, or doubtful.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Making someone feel less worried, anxious, or doubtful; restoring confidence.
Providing comfort, support, or a sense of safety through words, actions, or presence. Often implies a deliberate or inherent quality that dispels fears.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slight tendency in British English towards understated or institutional reassurance (e.g., from a doctor, official). American usage may be slightly more prevalent in therapeutic or self-help contexts.
Frequency
Comparably common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “reassuring” in a Sentence
It is reassuring to INFINITIVE (It is reassuring to know...)Find something reassuringBe reassuring about somethingSound/Look/Seem reassuringVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reassuring” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manager tried to reassure the team about the job security amidst the reorganisation.
American English
- The doctor reassured her that the procedure was very routine.
adverb
British English
- He smiled reassuringly and said everything was on schedule.
American English
- The technician spoke reassuringly as he fixed the complex system.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The CEO's statement was reassuring to investors concerned about the merger.
Academic
The initial data is reassuring, but further replication studies are required.
Everyday
It's reassuring to have a friend you can call at any time.
Technical
The diagnostic test returned a reassuring negative result.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reassuring”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reassuring”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reassuring”
- Incorrect: 'He was very reassured by her.' (Correct: 'He felt very reassured by her' or 'She was very reassuring.')
- Overuse in informal contexts where 'nice' or 'good' might suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun form is 'reassurance'.
Yes. Outcomes, news, data, statistics, and even objects (e.g., a reassuringly solid handrail) can be described as reassuring.
They are very close synonyms. 'Reassuring' often specifically addresses anxieties or doubts with facts or confidence. 'Comforting' is broader, addressing general sadness or distress, often with warmth or solace.
Both are common. The standard IPA shows a long 'ee' sound (/riːə/), but in rapid speech, the first vowel can be shortened, leading to the 're-uh' sound.
Making someone feel less worried, anxious, or doubtful.
Reassuring is usually neutral to formal. common in professional, medical, and personal contexts. in register.
Reassuring: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːəˈʃʊər.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriː.əˈʃʊr.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A reassuring pat on the back”
- “To strike a reassuring note”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-ASSURING = Assuring someone AGAIN (re-), to remove their doubts and make them feel sure and safe.
Conceptual Metaphor
REASSURANCE IS A SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE / A CALMING FORCE (e.g., 'a pillar of reassurance', 'a wave of reassurance').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'reassuring' CORRECTLY?