certain
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of CERTAIN
1
not used before a noun,
[more certain; most certain]
:
not having any doubt about something
:
convinced or sure
-
Are you certain [=sure] you want to leave today?
-
I feel less than certain about it. [=I am not sure about it]
-
She's certain (that) she can do the job despite her lack of experience.
-
I'm fairly certain that I'll be on time.
2
— used with it to say that something is known to be true or correct
-
Although little is known about these ancient people, it is certain that they grew a number of crops.
-
It's not certain [=definite] that the company will lay off workers. [=the company may lay off workers, but it also may not]
-
It seems certain that the jury will convict him.
3
— used to say that something will definitely happen or that someone will definitely do something
— often followed by to + verb
-
Before the game was half over our team's defeat was nearly certain.
-
Contact with the poison means certain death.
-
Her victory seems certain.
-
As technology develops, the rates of success with the procedure are certain to improve.
-
Health-care costs are certain [=sure] to increase in coming years.
-
She is almost certain to win.
-
He's all but certain to say no. [=he will almost surely say no]
4
always used before a noun
— used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically
-
Each employee will receive a certain share of the profits.
-
Building even a simple bookcase takes a certain amount of skill. [=takes some skill]
-
Certain people are always late for dinner.
-
On certain days there is no parking on the street.
-
The new technology has certain limitations.
-
Students must fulfill certain requirements to graduate.
-
She's allergic to certain [=particular] foods.
-
The contract can be extended under certain circumstances. [=in some special cases]
-
To a certain extent [=up to a point] he's right.
-
The movie will appeal to people of a certain age. [=people who are no longer young]
a certain
1
— used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe
-
She has a certain elegance about her.
-
The house has a certain charm.
2
formal
— used with the name of a person you do not know
-
In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.
for certain
:
without a doubt
:
definitely or certainly
-
No one knows for certain what the outcome will be.
-
We'll need more than an hour to get there for certain. [=for sure]
make certain
:
to do something or find out something so that you have no doubt about whether something is true, correct, will happen, etc.
— sometimes + of
-
Make certain (that) you lock the door when you leave. = Make certain to lock the door when you leave.
-
We must make certain [=make sure] this doesn't happen again.
-
She made certain she thanked each of them for coming.
-
Make certain of your flight times [=be sure that you definitely know your flight times] before you leave for the airport.
2
certain
/ˈsɚtn̩/
pronoun
2
certain
/ˈsɚtn̩/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of CERTAIN
formal
:
certain ones
:
particular members of a group
:
some
— + of
-
Certain of his assumptions are simply not true.
-
We know that certain of his classmates walk to school every day.
