1. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE, oft ADJ that/wh]
If you are certain about something, you firmly believe it is true and have no doubt about it. If you are not certain about something, you do not have definite knowledge about it.
She's absolutely certain she's going to make it in the world.
We are not certain whether the appendix had already burst or not.
It wasn't a balloon–I'm certain of that. [+ of]
[Also + about]
Synonyms: sure, convinced, positive, confident More Synonyms of certain
2. adjective [oft ADJECTIVE to-infinitive]
If you say that something is certainto happen, you mean that it will definitely happen.
However, the scheme is certain to meet opposition from fishermen's leaders.
It's not certain they'll accept the Front's candidate if he wins.
Brazil need to beat Uruguay to be certain of a place in the finals. [+ of]
The Prime Minister is heading for certain defeat if he forces a vote.
Victory looked certain.
3. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that something is certain, you firmly believe that it is true, or have definite knowledge about it.
One thing is certain, both have the utmost respect for each other.
It is certain that Rodney arrived the previous day.
Synonyms: known, true, positive, plain More Synonyms of certain
4. graded adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you have certain knowledge, you know that a particular thing is true.
He had been there four times to my certain knowledge.
5.
See for certain
6.
See make certain
More Synonyms of certain
certain referring and indicating amount
(sɜːʳtən)
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use certain to indicate that you are referring to one particular thing, person, or group, although you are not saying exactly which it is.
There will be certain people who'll say 'I told you so!'.
You owe a certain person a sum of money.
Leaflets have been air dropped telling people to leave certain areas.
2. quantifier
When you refer to certainof a group of people or things, you are referring to some particular members of thatgroup.
[formal]
They'll have to give up completely on certain of their studies. [+ of]
3. adjective
You can use a certain before the name of a person in order to indicate that you do not know the personor anything else about them.
She managed to arrange for them to be hidden in the house of a certain Father Boduen.
4. adjective
You use a certain to indicate that something such as a quality or condition exists, and often to suggest that it is not great in amount or degree.
That was the very reason why he felt a certain bitterness.
There is a certain impatience among some of the soldiers.
I received a certain amount of sympathy immediately after the attack.
certain in British English
(ˈsɜːtən)
adjective
1. (postpositive)
positive and confident about the truth of something; convinced
I am certain that he wrote a book
2. (usually postpositive)
definitely known
it is certain that they were on the bus
3. (usually postpositive)
sure; bound; destined
he was certain to fail
4.
decided or settled upon; fixed
the date is already certain for the election
5.
unfailing; reliable
his judgment is certain
6.
moderate or minimum
to a certain extent
7. make certain of
adverb
8. for certain
determiner
9.
a.
known but not specified or named
certain people may doubt this
b.
(as pronoun; functioning as plural)
certain of the members have not paid their subscriptions
10.
named but not known
he had written to a certain Mrs Wong
Word origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin certus sure, fixed, from cernere to discern, decide
certain in American English
(ˈsɜrtən)
adjective
1.
fixed, settled, or determined
2.
sure (to happen, etc.); inevitable
3.
not to be doubted; unquestionable
certain evidence
4.
not failing; reliable; dependable
a certain cure
5.
controlled; unerring
his certain aim
6.
without any doubt; assured; sure; positive
certain of his innocence
7.
not named or described, though definite and perhaps known
a certain person
8.
some, but not very much; appreciable
to a certain extent
pronoun
9. [with pl. v.]
a certain indefinite number; certain ones (of)
certain of these authors are seldom read
SIMILAR WORDS: sure
Idioms:
for certain
of a certain age
Word origin
ME & OFr < VL *certanus < L certus, determined, fixed, orig. pp. of cernere, to distinguish, decide, orig., to sift, separate: see harvest
Examples of 'certain' in a sentence
certain
This hardly seems the ideal time to reorganise certain already tricky arrangements.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
To my certain knowledge he has also made a big contribution to politics at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This emphasis on music gives me a certain degree of licence in the play.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They hope it will lead to a better understanding of why people get certain diseases.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This outlawed the use of such evidence save in certain specified exceptional circumstances.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They had a certain amount of freedom.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is absurd and makes it look almost certain it will be kicked into the long grass.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The reaction from certain people was one of horror.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You have to be a certain way.
The Sun (2013)
Together they turned certain defeat into the narrowest of victories.
The Sun (2016)
This will make you certain what should happen next in a relationship.
The Sun (2011)
None of my witnesses seemed certain of anything except the young woman.
Elizabeth Gaskell North and South (1855)
We have got certain commitments to make but there is no way we can honour them.
The Sun (2011)
Exposure to certain hormones might increase or reduce the risk of certain conditions and traits.
The Sun (2012)
This is because it is important to realize that artists cannot be completely certain of what they are doing.
Improve Your Landscape Painting
And quite clearly he wants not only a team that wins trophies but a team that wins with a certain style.
The Sun (2008)
We all have opinions, but none of us can be absolutely certain about the answer.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
certain
British English: certain /ˈsɜːtn/ ADJECTIVE
If you are certain about something, you know it is true.
She's certain that she's going to win.
American English: certain
Arabic: مُؤَكَّد
Brazilian Portuguese: certo evidente
Chinese: 确定的
Croatian: siguran
Czech: jistý
Danish: sikker
Dutch: zeker
European Spanish: seguro
Finnish: varma
French: certain
German: sicher
Greek: σίγουρος
Italian: certo
Japanese: 確信している
Korean: 확신하는
Norwegian: sikker
Polish: pewny niezawodny
European Portuguese: certo evidente
Romanian: sigur
Russian: уверенный
Latin American Spanish: cierto
Swedish: säker utan tvivel
Thai: แน่นอน
Turkish: kesin
Ukrainian: певний
Vietnamese: chắc chắn
All related terms of 'certain'
for certain
If you know something for certain , you have no doubt at all about it.
certain death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
certain point
You use point to refer to a particular time, or to a particular stage in the development of something.
certain size
The size of something is how big or small it is. Something's size is determined by comparing it to other things, counting it, or measuring it.
make certain
If you make certain that something is the way you want or expect it to be, you take action to ensure that it is.
certain amount
The amount of something is how much there is, or how much you have, need, or get .
certain number
You use number with words such as 'large' or 'small' to say approximately how many things or people there are.
certain criteria
A criterion is a factor on which you judge or decide something.
certain percentage
A percentage is a fraction of an amount expressed as a particular number of hundredths of that amount.
certain situations
You use situation to refer generally to what is happening in a particular place at a particular time, or to refer to what is happening to you.
certain standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
make certain of
to ensure (that one will get something); confirm
of a certain age
of an unspecified age , but no longer young
to some/a certain degree (etc)
You use expressions such as to some degree , to a large degree , or to a certain degree in order to indicate that something is partly true , but not entirely true.
to a large extent to some/a certain extent(etc)
You use expressions such as to a large extent , to some extent , or to a certain extent in order to indicate that something is partly true , but not entirely true.
Chinese translation of 'certain'
certain
(ˈsəːtən)
adj
(= sure)[person]肯定的 (kěndìng de)
[defeat, success, victory, death]一定的 (yīdìng de)
(= some)[times, people, days]某些 (mǒuxiē)
to be certain that ... [person]肯定 ... (kěndìng ... )
it is certain that ... 肯定 ... (kěndìng ... )
he is certain to be there他肯定在那儿(兒) (tā kěndìng zài nàr)
to make certain that ... 证(證)实(實) ... (zhèngshí ... )
to be certain of肯定 (kěndìng)
a certain coldness/pleasure有点(點)冷淡/高兴(興) (yǒu diǎn lěngdàn/gāoxìng)
a certain amount of sth一定量的某物 (yīdìng liàng de mǒuwù)