certain

[ sur-tn ]

/ ˈsɜr tn /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR certain ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

free from doubt or reservation; confident; sure: I am certain he will come.

destined; sure to happen (usually followed by an infinitive): He is certain to be there.

inevitable; bound to come: They realized then that war was certain.

established as true or sure; unquestionable; indisputable: It is certain that he tried.

fixed; agreed upon; settled: on a certain day; for a certain amount.

definite or particular, but not named or specified: A certain person phoned. He had a certain charm.

that may be depended on; trustworthy; unfailing; reliable: His aim was certain.

some though not much: a certain reluctance.

Obsolete. steadfast.

pronoun

certain ones: Certain of the members declined the invitation.

Nearby words

cerro de punta, cerro gordo, cerro tololo inter-american observatory, cert, cert., certain, certainly, certainty, certed, certes, certif.

Idioms

for certain, without a doubt; surely: I know for certain that I have seen that face before.

Origin of certain

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French < Vulgar Latin *certānus, equivalent to Latin cert(us) sure, settled (cer- base of cernere to decide, + -tus past participle suffix) + -ānus -an

SYNONYMS FOR certain

1 convinced, satisfied. See sure.

4 indubitable, incontestable, irrefutable, incontrovertible, obvious, plain, clear.

5 determined.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR certain ON THESAURUS.COM

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for certain

Certain features of its history suggest why this may be the case.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Unlike the Soviet Union at a certain period in history, the Russian economy does not hold a candle to that of the United States.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I believe in the power of institutions—Congress, public policy, certain ideas about politics—that last for a long time.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And a certain presumed presidential candidate needs to be doing it, too.
The Democrats’ Black Hole—and What They Can Do About It|Michael Tomasky|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Canned drinks like Mercy contain up 5,000 percent of the daily value of certain vitamins.
History's Craziest Hangover Cures|Justin Jones|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am not without a certain sort of self-reproach in all this.
Cornelius O'Dowd Upon Men And Women And Other Things In General|Charles Lever
If he had been alive I am certain he would not have shirked his duty.
Yule Logs|Various
Now in Dublin one allows a certain latitude, but in Downing Street!
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, February 11, 1914|Various
I repeat—for certain reasons—that I closed with an anecdote.
Essays on Paul Bourget|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
But this is certain, that whatever the sex set their hearts upon, they make thorough work of it.
Clarissa, Volume 6 (of 9)|Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for certain

certain

/ (ˈsɜːtən) /

adjective

(postpositive) positive and confident about the truth of something; convincedI am certain that he wrote a book

(usually postpositive) definitely knownit is certain that they were on the bus

(usually postpositive) sure; bound; destinedhe was certain to fail

decided or settled upon; fixedthe date is already certain for the invasion

unfailing; reliablehis judgment is certain

moderate or minimumto a certain extent

make certain of to ensure (that one will get something); confirm

adverb

for certain definitely; without a doubthe will win for certain

determiner

known but not specified or namedcertain people may doubt this
(as pronoun; functioning as plural)certain of the members have not paid their subscriptions

named but not knownhe had written to a certain Mrs Smith

Word Origin for certain

C13: from Old French, from Latin certus sure, fixed, from cernere to discern, decide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with certain

certain

see for certain.

certain

adjective

pronoun

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of certain

SYNONYMS FOR certain

Examples from the Web for certain

British Dictionary definitions for certain

certain

adjective

adverb

determiner

Word Origin for certain

Idioms and Phrases with certain

certain