certain
Other forms: certainer; certainest
When you're certain, you're sure about something. When you raise your hand to give the answer, you feel certain that you are correct.
Certain can mean "definite" or "sure to happen," like getting wet, a certain outcome of not having an umbrella in a rainstorm. It can also refer to a particular person or thing. You can use it avoid explaining something unnecessarily — you might say, "There are certain things I want to do when I get home." To avoid saying someone's name, you can say, "a certain person," as in, "A certain person left the kitchen a mess."
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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”
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synonyms:
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definite
known for certain
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indisputable, sure
impossible to doubt or dispute
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sure as shooting
absolutely certain
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antonyms:
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uncertain
not established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown
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indefinite
not decided or not known
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up in the air
very uncertain
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indeterminate, undetermined
not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance
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definite
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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”
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synonyms:
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definite
precise; explicit and clearly defined
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definite
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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”
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synonyms:
sure
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bound, destined
(usually followed by `to') governed by fate
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doomed, fated
(usually followed by `to') determined by tragic fate
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foreordained, predestinate, predestined
established or prearranged unalterably
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in for
certain to get or have
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predictable
capable of being foretold
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antonyms:
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uncertain
not certain to occur; not inevitable
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chancy, flukey, fluky, iffy
subject to accident or chance or change
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contingent
uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances
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up in the air
not yet determined
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unpredictable
not capable of being foretold
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bound, destined
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established irrevocably
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having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured“felt certain of success”“was sure (or certain) she had seen it”
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synonyms:
sure
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antonyms:
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incertain, uncertain, unsure
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
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ambivalent
uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
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doubtful, dubious
fraught with uncertainty or doubt
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groping
acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence
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incertain, uncertain, unsure
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exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance
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reliable in operation or effect
/ˈsʌrtn/
/ˈsʌtən/
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Vocabulary lists containing certain
Can you handle the truth? Learn this list of words for things that are real, factual, and trustworthy. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.
Choose the Spelling Bee activity to practice spelling these words.
This list covers "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey," "Stung," and "Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude."