Definitions for certain
ˈsɜr tncer·tain

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

1. certain(a)(adj)

   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), sure(adj)

   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)(adj)

   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, sure(adj)

   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, certain(adj)

   established irrevocably

   "his fate is sealed"

6. certain, sure(adj)

   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, sure(adj)

   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. certain(Adjective)

   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. certain(Adjective)

   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. Certain(adj)

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

2. Certain(adj)

   determined; resolved; -- used with an infinitive

3. Certain(adj)

   not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact

4. Certain(adj)

   actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable

5. Certain(adj)

   unfailing; infallible

6. Certain(adj)

   fixed or stated; regular; determinate

7. Certain(adj)

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

8. Certain(noun)

   certainty

9. Certain(noun)

   a certain number or quantity

10. Certain(adverb)

    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, spirit and soul.

   They both are certain they are getting married sooner than they planned as their love for each other is so certain.

   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. Andrew Sentance:

   He appears to be trying to lead the Committee in a certain direction before there is clear evidence about how the economy is responding to this shock, the MPC is always evidence-based in its decisions and at present we have little evidence on the economic impact of the Brexit decision.

2. Amesh Adalja:

   That’s why you have to take certain precautions when you are working with a cow in the birthing process to make sure that you don’t inhale the material from the birth that may contain the Q fever bacteria.

3. Sedef Cakmak:

   A concerted effort is underway to dehumanize the streets, to create a society stripped of its reactions, for all its flaws, Turkey has a certain culture of democracy which there's an effort underway to destroy. People will react to that in whatever form.

4. Senior Chief Slabinski:

   I ’m trying to direct what everybody’s got going on, trying to see what’s going on with John Chapman ; I ’m already 95 percent certain in my mind that John Chapman’s been killed, that’s why I was like, ‘ OK, Air Force officials’ve got to move. ’.

5. Jeff Moss:

   When I need to call people and I don't trust the local providers, I just encrypt it out and then I get my voice call. Related : 10 Data Security Mistakes Startups Can't Afford to Make 4. Avoid hotel WiFi and business centersIf your business has a properly configured VPN -- a Virtual Private Network -- your information is generally safe. But occasionally, if you're using the hotel’s WiFi -- either in the business center or your room -- it will block your VPN or only certain ones will work. A lot of these hotels, to even get online, you can't get on the WiFi without first accepting the terms of service or paying or something. So you can't use your VPN for that portion and that's the most dangerous period, a lot of those use expired SSL search that are not compatible with modern browsers.

Images & Illustrations of certain

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