uncertain
Americanadjective
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not definitely ascertainable or fixed, as in time of occurrence, number, dimensions, or quality.
- Synonyms:
- unpredictable, unsure
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not confident, assured, or free from hesitancy.
an uncertain smile.
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not clearly or precisely determined; indefinite; unknown.
a manuscript of uncertain origin.
- Synonyms:
- undetermined, unsettled
-
vague; indistinct; not perfectly apprehended.
an abstruse novel with uncertain themes.
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subject to change; variable; capricious; unstable.
a person of uncertain opinions.
-
ambiguous; unreliable; undependable.
Her loyalties are uncertain.
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dependent on chance or unpredictable factors; doubtful; of unforeseeable outcome or effect.
-
unsteady or flickering, as light; of changing intensity or quality.
- Synonyms:
- irregular
adjective
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not able to be accurately known or predicted
the issue is uncertain
-
not sure or confident (about)
a man of uncertain opinion
-
not precisely determined, established, or decided
uncertain plans
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not to be depended upon; unreliable
an uncertain vote
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liable to variation; changeable
the weather is uncertain
-
-
unambiguously
-
forcefully
-
Related Words
Uncertain, insecure, precarious imply a lack of predictability. That which is uncertain is doubtful or problematical; it often involves danger through an inability to predict or to place confidence in the unknown: The time of his arrival is uncertain. That which is insecure is not firm, stable, reliable, or safe, and hence is likely to give way, fail, or be overcome: an insecure foundation, footing, protection. Precarious suggests great susceptibility to failure, or exposure to imminent danger: a precarious means of existence.
Other Word Forms
- uncertainly adverb
- uncertainness noun
Etymology
Origin of uncertain
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; un- 1 + certain
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.
But he said on air that he was “told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.”
From Los Angeles Times
“We were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said in a scathing 6½-minute monologue.
Although we knew oncRNAs could be detected in blood, it was uncertain whether they would provide meaningful information in real patient samples.
From Science Daily
“Given the rapid progress of AI technology, recent investor conversations have focused on the challenge of translating near-term profit strength to uncertain long-term growth outlooks,” the Goldman teams adds.
From MarketWatch
Old-school dividend payers with lots of physical assets are back in fashion in today’s uncertain environment.
Definitions 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.
