Link Centre Dictionary

certain

cer·tain

UK/ˈsɜː.tən/ US/ˈsɜː.tn̩/ very common

adjective

1.

definite but not specified or identified

  • “set aside a certain sum each week”
  • “to a certain degree”
  • “certain breeds do not make good pets”
  • “certain members have not paid their dues”
  • “a certain popular teacher”
  • “a certain Mrs. Jones”
Similar
2.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

  • “felt certain of success”
  • “was sure (or certain) she had seen it”
  • “was very sure in his beliefs”
  • “sure of her friends”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Similar
3.

established beyond doubt or question; definitely known

  • “what is certain is that every effect must have a cause”
  • “it is certain that they were on the bus”
  • “his fate is certain”
  • “the date for the invasion is certain”
Antonyms
Similar
4.

certain to occur; destined or inevitable

  • “he was certain to fail”
  • “his fate is certain”
  • “In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes” Benjamin Franklin
  • “he faced certain death”
  • “sudden but sure regret”
  • “he is sure to win”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Similar
5.

established irrevocably

  • “his fate is sealed”
Synonyms
Antonyms
6.

capable of being depended on

  • “a quick and certain remedy”
  • “a sure way to distinguish the two”
  • “wood dust is a sure sign of termites”
Synonyms
Similar
7.

exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

  • “be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through”
  • “be sure to lock the doors”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).

Phrases

  • certain as death and taxes
  • certain as death or taxes
  • certain event
  • certain person
  • for certain
  • make certain
  • nothing is certain but death and taxes
  • of a certain

Related words

Word family

See also

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.