certain
/ˈsɜː.tən/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Known without doubt. It means you are sure something is true, or something will happen.
- I am certain about the date.
- She was certain he would call.
- 2.
Used before a noun to mean some but not all, or a particular one that is not named.
- Certain students need extra help.
- He has a certain charm.
Adinary Nuance
Certain is stronger than likely and usually stronger than probably. Use certain when you feel no doubt, not when something is only expected. In the phrase certain people or a certain reason, it means 'some specific' or 'particular', not 'sure'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chắc chắn
- Spanish
- cierto
- Chinese
- 肯定的
- Japanese
- 確かな
- Korean
- 확실한
Etymology
From Old French certain, from Latin certus meaning 'fixed' or 'sure'. It entered English in the Middle Ages and kept both the 'sure' and 'some particular' meanings.
Common phrases
certain aboutcertain thatfor certaina certain amount
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is certain stronger than likely?
- Yes. **Certain** means you have no doubt. **Likely** means something seems probable, but not sure.
- What does a certain person mean?
- It means one particular person, often unnamed. It does not mean the person is sure of something.
- Can I use certain in academic writing?
- Yes. It is common in academic and formal writing, especially for strong belief or specific meaning.