adverb
Etymology
Origin of certainly
Explanation
Use the adverb certainly when you’re sure about a particular action — absolutely, positively sure. If you love the new shoes you just bought, you may defend your purchase by saying they were certainly worth the money you paid. The word certainly emphasizes that you’re positive about something. When you hear thunder and look up at a gray sky, you might say it will certainly rain. If you’re on a diet, you could say that you will certainly avoid chocolate cake. Certainly can also be used to answer a question in the affirmative. If your boss asks to speak to you, you might answer, “Certainly.” It’s just a formal way of saying “yes.”
Vocabulary lists containing certainly
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ly
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"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, Chapters 4–6
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Novel Study: Barrio Boy, Parts 1–3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That ferocious language certainly does not represent mainstream Israeli opinion, but it’s fair to say the strong emotion beneath Levy’s words is far more widely felt.
From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026
The renovation was certainly a laborious process, but for the “Funny Girl” star, it was all worth it.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
And maybe more importantly, while it’s kind of gross, it’s certainly legal, and as you said, the ballot clearly names the incumbent.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2026
And that number is almost certainly higher today.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026
They are ready to serve their country, certainly.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
