certain — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.

   Examples

   I was certain of my decision.

   […] I think, nay, I may say that I'm sartain, we'll have a hurricane afore morning. It's not the first time I've cruised in these latitudes.

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   I GET letters from you far too seldom considering that you can much more easily find people starting for Rome than I to Athens: considering, too, that you are more certain of my being at Rome than I of your being at Athens.

2. Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.

   Examples

   Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.

   […]the dreame is certaine, and the interpretation thereof ſure.

3. Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.

   Examples

   It is certain that Spain will reach the finals. / Spain is now certain to reach the finals. / Spain is now certain of a place in the finals.

   Bankruptcy is the certain outcome of your constant gambling and lending.

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   […]death (as the Pſalmiſt ſaith) is certaine to all, all ſhall die.

   How vain is Virtue which directs our ways Through certain danger to uncertain praiſe!

4. Unfailing; infallible.

   Examples

   I have often wished, that I knew so certain a remedy in any other disease

5. Fixed; regular; determinate.

   Examples

   at certain intervals

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   Then ſaid the Lord vnto Moſes, Behold, I will raine bread from heauen for you: and the people ſhall goe out, and gather a certaine rate euery day, that I may proue them, whether they will walke in my Law, or no.

6. Particular and definite, but unspecified or unnamed; used to introduce someone or something without going into further detail.

   Examples

   Every wine has a certain distinctive character which sets it apart from all others.

   Each morning, she would see a certain man rush past her window on his way to work.

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   And it came to paſſe, when he was in a certaine citie[…]

   About everything that he wrote, serious or sportive, there was a certain natural grace and decorum[…]

7. Used to denote that the speaker is referring to a specific person or thing that they do not want to name directly, implying that the listener should infer the identity of the referent.

   Usage

   • euphemistic

   Examples

   I would have been here on time, but a certain someone lost the car keys!

8. Named but not previously mentioned.

   Usage

   • of a person

   Synonyms

   one

   Examples

   Looking inside the cover, they learned that the book had once belonged to a certain R. Jones.

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   About 140 years ago, for example, a certain Hsü Kuang-ming established an ancestral estate in Wanluan consisting of ten hectares. The trust was specifically set aside to provide for his own worship after death, and access to its profits was to be enjoyed only by his descendants.

9. Used before the name of someone famous that people are expected to know.

   Usage

   • of a person

   Synonyms

   one

   Examples

   Since the last British government to make such a proposal was that of a certain Margaret Thatcher, it might not seem unreasonable.

10. Determined; resolved.

    Usage

    • Obsolete

    Examples

    However I with thee have fixt my Lot, Certain to undergoe like doom[…]

Determiner

1. Having been determined but not specified.

   Examples

   Certain people are good at running.

   One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly-appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.”

Pronoun

1. Unnamed or undescribed members (of).

   Usage

   • with-of

   Synonyms

   some

   Examples

   She mentioned a series of contracts, of which certain are not cited.

   […]certaine of the Jewes banded together[…]

Adjective

1. definite but not specified or identified

   Examples

   set aside a certain sum each week

   to a certain degree

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   certain breeds do not make good pets

   certain members have not paid their dues

   a certain popular teacher

   a certain Mrs. Jones

2. having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

   Synonyms

   sure

   Antonyms

   uncertain

   Examples

   felt certain of success

   was sure (or certain) she had seen it

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   was very sure in his beliefs

   sure of her friends

3. established beyond doubt or question; definitely known

   Antonyms

   uncertain

   Examples

   what is certain is that every effect must have a cause

   it is certain that they were on the bus

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   his fate is certain

   the date for the invasion is certain

4. certain to occur; destined or inevitable

   Synonyms

   sure

   Antonyms

   uncertain

   Examples

   he was certain to fail

   his fate is certain

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   he faced certain death

   sudden but sure regret

   he is sure to win

5. established irrevocably

   Synonyms

   sealed

   Examples

   his fate is sealed

6. reliable in operation or effect

   Synonyms

   sure

   Examples

   a quick and certain remedy

   a sure way to distinguish the two

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   wood dust is a sure sign of termites

7. exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

   Synonyms

   sure

   Examples

   be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through

   be sure to lock the doors