Definitions for certain
ˈsɜr tncer·tain

Princeton's WordNet(2.83 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. certain(a)adjective

   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"

2. certain(p), sureadjective

   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"

3. certain(p)adjective

   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"

4. certain, sureadjective

   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"

5. sealed, certainadjective

   established irrevocably

   "his fate is sealed"

6. certain, sureadjective

   reliable in operation or effect

   "a quick and certain remedy"; "a sure way to distinguish the two"; "wood dust is a sure sign of termites"

7. certain, sureadjective

   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"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. certainadjective

   Having been determined but unspecified. The quality of some particular subject or object which is known by the speaker to have been specifically singled out among similar entities of its class.

   I was certain of my decision.

   Etymology: From certain, certein, from certain, from unattested form , extended form of certus, of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere. Displaced native wis, iwis (from gewiss ġewis, ġewiss and alternative spelling sertane

2. certainadjective

   Sure, positive, not doubting.

   I was certain of my decision.

   Etymology: From certain, certein, from certain, from unattested form , extended form of certus, of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere. Displaced native wis, iwis (from gewiss ġewis, ġewiss and alternative spelling sertane

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Certainadjective

   assured in mind; having no doubts; free from suspicions concerning

2. Certainadjective

   determined; resolved; -- used with an infinitive

3. Certainadjective

   not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact

4. Certainadjective

   actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable

5. Certainadjective

   unfailing; infallible

6. Certainadjective

   fixed or stated; regular; determinate

7. Certainadjective

   not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; -- sometimes used independenty as a noun, and meaning certain persons

8. Certainnoun

   certainty

9. Certainnoun

   a certain number or quantity

10. Certainadverb

    certainly

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Certain

   sėr′tān, or sėr′tin, adj. sure: not to be doubted: resolved: fixed: regular: inevitable: some: one.—advs. Cer′tainly, (Scot.) Cer′ty, Cer′tie.—ns. Cer′titude, Cer′tainty.—'A certain person,' implying some degree of contempt; A lady of a certain age, of an age best not stated accurately—at least no longer young.—For certain, assuredly.—Moral certainty, a conviction so justifiable that one is morally entitled to act on it. [O. Fr.,—L. certus—cern-ĕre, to decide.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. certain

   To feel and know with our conscience, consciousness, heart, mind, subconscious, spirit and soul.

   They both are certain they are getting married to each other.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 22, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'certain' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #419

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'certain' in Written Corpus Frequency: #518

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'certain' in Adjectives Frequency: #45

Anagrams for certain »

1. tercian

2. tacrine

How to pronounce certain?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say certain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of certain in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of certain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of certain in a Sentence

1. Prof.Salam Al Shereida:

   While it may be difficult for us to control our emotional and affective responses, a fuller comprehension of how they affect our choices is certain to ameliorate our decisions.

2. Alex Tsai:

   Wang Liqiang is not a spy. That is already certain.

3. Brett Kavanaugh:

   That was a group that was being forced to provide certain kind of health coverage over their religious objection to their employees, and under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the question was first, was this a substantial burden on the religious exercise ? And Religious Freedom Restoration Act seemed to me quite clearly Religious Freedom Restoration Act was.

4. Ethan Lindenberger:

   To combat preventable-disease outbreaks, information is, in my mind, the forefront of this matter. My mother would turn to anti-vaccine groups online and on social media, looking for her evidence in defense rather than health officials and other credible sources. This may seem to be in malice because of the dangers of not vaccinating imposes, but this is not the case. My mother came in the sense of loving her children and being concerned, for certain individuals and organizations that spread misinformation, they instill fear into the public for their own gain selfishly and do so knowing that their information is incorrect. For my mother, her love, affection and care as a parent, was used to push an agenda to create a false distress, and these sources which spread misinformation should be the primary concern of the American people.

5. Wendy Sue Swanson:

   Programming has gotten better and better at capturing our kids' attention, and while this is provocative and compelling for children's minds, it also sets them up for this expectation that the world moves at a certain pace, and we know that it doesn't.

Images & Illustrations of certain

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