Question 1 · Quick check
certain
CEFRA1
/ˈsɜː.tən/
adjective
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
adjective
Sure that something is true or will happen.
- 02
adjective
Particular but not named or described.
Examples
Many animals breed only at certain times of the year.
I'm certain of your success.
At a glance
Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 1
- Citations
- 5
- Synonyms
- 5
Also pronounced
- /ˈsɜː.tn̩/
- /ˈsɝ.ʔn̩/
Deep Dive
adjective
Extra meaningsNot to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.
Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.
More examples
In contextYour eyes have a certain magnetism.
Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.
I was certain of my decision.
Related
Quick test
Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.
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Nearby
Origin
adjective
From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).