Definitions for uncertain
ʌnˈsɜr tnun·cer·tain

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. uncertain, unsure, incertainadjective

   lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance

   "uncertain of his convictions"; "unsure of himself and his future"; "moving with uncertain (or unsure) steps"; "an uncertain smile"; "touched the ornaments with uncertain fingers"

2. uncertainadjective

   not established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown

   "an uncertain future"; "a manuscript of uncertain origin"; "plans are still uncertain"; "changes of great if uncertain consequences"; "without further evidence his story must remain uncertain"

3. unsealed, uncertainadjective

   not established or confirmed

   "his doom is as yet unsealed"

4. uncertainadjective

   not certain to occur; not inevitable

   "everything is uncertain about the army"; "the issue is uncertain"

5. changeable, uncertain, unsettledadjective

   subject to change

   "a changeable climate"; "the weather is uncertain"; "unsettled weather with rain and hail and sunshine coming one right after the other"

6. uncertainadjective

   not consistent or dependable

   "an uncertain recollection of events"; "a gun with a rather uncertain trigger"

7. uncertainadjective

   ambiguous (especially in the negative)

   "she spoke in no uncertain terms"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. uncertainadjective

   not known for certain; questionable

2. uncertainadjective

   not yet determined; undecided

3. uncertainadjective

   variable and subject to change

4. uncertainadjective

   fitful or unsteady

5. uncertainadjective

   unpredictable or capricious

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Uncertainadjective

   Etymology: incertain, Fr. incertus, Lat.

   1. Doubtful; not certainly known.

   That sacred pile, so vast, so high,
   That whether ’tis a part of earth or sky,
   Uncertain seems; and may be thought a proud
   Aspiring mountain, or descending cloud. John Denham.

   2. Doubtful; not having certain knowledge.

   Man, without the protection of a superior being, is secure of nothing that he enjoys, and uncertain of every thing that he hopes for. John Tillotson.

   Condemned on Caucasus to lie,
   Still to be dying, not to die;
   With certain pain, uncertain of relief,
   True emblem of a wretched lover’s grief. George Granville.

   3. Not sure in the consequence.

   I must be married to my brother’s daughter,
   Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass:
   Murther her brothers, and then marry her!
   Uncertain way of gain! William Shakespeare, Richard III.

   Ascanius young, and eager of his game,
   Soon bent his bow, uncertain in his aim:
   But the dire fiend the fatal arrow guides,
   Which pierc’d his bowels through his panting sides. Dryden.

   In the bright air the fauchion shone,
   Or whistling slings dismiss’d th’ uncertain stone. John Gay.

   The search of our future being, is but a needless, anxious, and uncertain haste to be knowing, sooner than we can, what, without all this solicitude, we shall know a little later. Alexander Pope.

   4. Unsettled; unregular.

   As the form of our publick service is not voluntary, so neither are the parts thereof uncertain; but they are all set down in such order, and with such choice, as hath, in the wisdom of the church, seemed best. Richard Hooker.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Uncertainadjective

   not certain; not having certain knowledge; not assured in mind; distrustful

2. Uncertainadjective

   irresolute; inconsonant; variable; untrustworthy; as, an uncertain person; an uncertain breeze

3. Uncertainadjective

   questionable; equivocal; indefinite; problematical

4. Uncertainadjective

   not sure; liable to fall or err; fallible

5. Uncertainadjective

   to make uncertain

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Uncertain

   Uncertain is a city in Harrison County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 150.

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

1. Uncertain

   un-sėr′tān, adj. not certain, doubtful: not to be depended upon: not sure of the result.—adv. Uncer′tainly.—ns. Uncer′tainness; Uncer′tainty, state of being uncertain or doubtful: want of certainty: that which is uncertain.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'uncertain' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4399

2. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'uncertain' in Adjectives Frequency: #600

Anagrams for uncertain »

1. runcinate

2. N Centauri

How to pronounce uncertain?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say uncertain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of uncertain in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of uncertain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of uncertain in a Sentence

1. Jerome Powell:

   Forecasters have a lot to be humble about. It's a highly uncertain business, we're very much attuned to the risks and watching the data carefully.

2. John Keats:

   The imagination of a boy is healthy, and the mature imagination of a man is healthy but there is a space of life between, in which the soul is in a ferment, the character undecided, the way of life uncertain, the ambition thick-sighted thence proceeds mawkishness.

3. Jeb Bush:

   There's going to be all sorts of disasters that take place -- natural disasters, attacks on the homeland -- it's a certainty in an uncertain world that this president and the next president is going to have to confront all sorts of challenges where his leadership or her leadership is going to matter.

4. Lynda Doughty:

   We were so nervous of what the pandemic might bring and how we would stay afloat as a nonprofit in uncertain times, our team stood strong and we were able to be deemed essential in order to keep our doors open to continue to help and care for animals.

5. Lucas Romero:

   Of course, The SenatePolls can't dismiss the role of public opinion and the pressure that approval in the lower house could bring, those could both be factors that could change the scenario in the Senate,... but for now it remains very uncertain.

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