HyperDic: certain

English > 7 senses of the word certain:
ADJECTIVEallcertaindefinite but not specified or identified
allcertain, surehaving or feeling no doubt or uncertainty
allcertainestablished beyond doubt or question
allcertain, surecertain to occur
allcertain, sealedestablished irrevocably
allcertain, surereliable / reliable in operation or effect
allcertain, sureexercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance
certain > pronunciation
Soundsser'tahn
RhymesAachen ... Zukerman: 2572 rhymes with ahn...
English > certain: 7 senses > adjective 1
MeaningDefinite but not specified or identified.
Examples
  • "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"
Broaderdefiniteprecise
Spanishcierto
Catalancert
English > certain: 7 senses > adjective 2
MeaningHaving or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured.
Examples
  • "felt certain of success"
  • "was sure (or certain) she had seen it"
Synonymsure
Attribute ofassurance, self-assurance, confidence, self-confidence, authority, surenessfreedom from doubt
certaintyThe state of being certain
Narrowerconvinced, positive, confidentpersuaded of
Oppositeuncertain, unsure, incertainlacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
Spanishcierto, seguro
Catalansegur
English > certain: 7 senses > adjective 3
MeaningEstablished beyond doubt or question; definitely known.
Examples
  • "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"
Attribute ofcertainty, sure thing, foregone conclusionSomething that is certain
Narrowerdefiniteknown for certain
indisputable, sureimpossible to doubt or dispute
sure as shootingabsolutely certain
Oppositeuncertainnot established beyond doubt
Adverbscertainlydefinitely or positively ('sure' is sometimes used informally for 'surely')
English > certain: 7 senses > adjective 4
MeaningCertain to occur; destined or inevitable.
Examples
  • "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"
Synonymsure
Narrowerbound, destined(usually followed by 'to') governed by fate
doomed, fated(usually followed by 'to') determined by tragic fate
foreordained, predestinate, predestinedEstablished or prearranged unalterably
in forCertain to get or have
See alsopredictablecapable of being foretold
Oppositeuncertainnot certain to occur
Spanishforzoso, ineludible, inevitable, inexorable, seguro
Catalancert, forçós, indefugible, ineludible, inevitable, inexorable, segur
English > certain: 7 senses > adjective 5
MeaningEstablished irrevocably.
Synonymsealed
Oppositeunsealed, uncertainnot established or confirmed
Spanishprecintado, sellado
English > certain: 7 senses > adjective 6
Meaningreliable / reliable in operation or effect.
Example"a quick and certain remedy"
Synonymsure
Broaderreliable, dependableworthy of reliance or trust
Spanishseguro
English > certain: 7 senses > adjective 7
MeaningExercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance.
Example"be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through"
Synonymsure
BroadercarefulExercising caution or showing care or attention
Spanishseguro
Catalansegur

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