certain
/'sə:tn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Established beyond doubt; known for sure: Used to describe something that is definitely true or will definitely happen, leaving no room for uncertainty.
- Confident and assured; having no doubt: Describes a person's state of mind when they are completely convinced about something.
- Definite but unspecified; particular but not named: Used to refer to a specific person, thing, or amount without giving precise details or identifying it exactly.
- Reliable; sure in effect: Describes something that is dependable and will produce the expected result.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- It is certain that the sun will rise tomorrow. (Established fact)
- She was certain she had locked the door before leaving. (Confident and assured)
- A certain person called for you while you were out. (Definite but unspecified)
- This medicine is a certain cure for headaches. (Reliable in effect)
Advanced Usage
- For certain: Used as an adverbial phrase meaning "without doubt; definitely."
- I can't say for certain when I will arrive.
- Make certain: To ensure or verify that something is true or will happen.
- Please make certain all the windows are closed.
Variants and Related Words
- Certainly (adverb): Without doubt; definitely.
- She will certainly attend the meeting.
- Certainty (noun): The state of being certain; something that is certain to happen.
- There is no certainty in the stock market.
Synonyms
- Sure: Confident; not liable to fail.
- Definite: Clearly stated or decided; not vague.
- Inevitable: Certain to happen; unavoidable.
- Assured: Confident or guaranteed.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Certain of: Feeling confident about something.
- He was certain of his victory.
Related Idioms
- A certain something: An appealing but hard-to-define quality.
- She has a certain something that makes her very charismatic.
- Nothing is certain but death and taxes: A saying meaning that very few things in life are guaranteed.
Adjective
- 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
- 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
- established irrevocably
- his fate is sealed
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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