certain

Study(12)

UK /ˈsɜː.tən/ US /ˈsɝ.tən/

adj 5det 1pron 1name 1

Collocations

(adj.)

VERBS

be, feel, look, seem

She felt certain that she had locked the door before leaving home.

become, grow

As I read more of his emails, I became certain that he had forgotten about our meeting.

make

Before leaving the house, she made certain all the windows were closed.

ADV

very | absolutely, quite

by no means

Whether the project will be finished on time is by no means certain.

almost | fairly, pretty

PREP

about/of

I'm certain of my decision to study abroad next year.

PHRASES

can't/couldn't say for certain

He left the party early, but I can't say for certain why he decided to go.

not know for certain

My sister hasn't told me for certain whether she's moving to London next month.

Definitions

adj

Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.

I was certain of my decision.

[…] I think, nay, I may say that I'm sartain, we'll have a hurricane afore morning. It's not the first time I've cruised in these latitudes.

Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.

Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.

[…]the dreame is certaine, and the interpretation thereof ſure.

Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.

It is certain that Spain will reach the finals. / Spain is now certain to reach the finals. / Spain is now certain of a place in the finals.

Bankruptcy is the certain outcome of your constant gambling and lending.

Unfailing; infallible.

I have often wished, that I knew so certain a remedy in any other disease

Fixed; regular; determinate.

at certain intervals

Then ſaid the Lord vnto Moſes, Behold, I will raine bread from heauen for you: and the people ſhall goe out, and gather a certaine rate euery day, that I may proue them, whether they will walke in my Law, or no.

det

Having been determined but not specified.

Certain people are good at running.

One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly-appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.”

pron

Unnamed or undescribed members (of).

She mentioned a series of contracts, of which certain are not cited.

[…]certaine of the Jewes banded together[…]

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adjective — exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

sure

adjective — certain to occur

sure

adjective — reliable in operation or effect

sure

adjective — established irrevocably

sealed

Antonyms

uncertain
unsealed

Idioms & Phrases

nothing is certain but death and taxes

Nothing in life is certain nor can be taken for granted, except (humorously) that one will die one day and that one is required to pay taxes.

Example Bank

I was certain of my decision.

Wiktionary

[…] I think, nay, I may say that I'm sartain, we'll have a hurricane afore morning. It's not the first time I've cruised in these latitudes.

Wiktionary

Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.

Wiktionary

Certain people are good at running.

Wiktionary

One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly-appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.”

Wiktionary

She mentioned a series of contracts, of which certain are not cited.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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