Definitions for certain
ˈsɜr tncer·tain

Princeton's WordNet(3.20 / 5 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.

2. certain(Adjective)

   Sure, positive, not doubting.

   I was certain of my decision.

Origin: 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(2.50 / 2 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.]

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

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. Darren Williams:

   There is a certain complacency.

2. Mike McCaul:

   We don’t know for certain yet.

3. Aydian Dowling:

   I just wanted to act a certain way.

4. Donald Trump:

   I've developed a certain confidence.

5. Robert Anton Wilson, The Illuminatus Trilogy:

   Only the insane is absolutely certain.

Images & Illustrations of certain

Popularity rank by frequency of use