certain

Examples

• All

• Well, before I make that type of investment, I like to be quite certain of what I'm getting myself into.

  Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013)

• Even Christ was not certain at the end.

  Conclave (2024)

• You seem like the most certain dude any of us know.

• It's almost certain they saw us.

  The Magnificent Seven (1960)

• Are you certain that God and men will continue to assist you?

  Francis of Assisi (1961)

• I've never been more certain of anything in my life.

  HIM (2025)

• I'm certain that you'll come through it all right.

  Paths of Glory (1957)

• She started to feel more confident, more certain, and more empowered.

  Evan Carmichael

• Explicit instruction can improve children's ability to do certain kinds of critical thinking and reasoning.

  Academic text (1990)

• I left for Oxford, certain I would go on to law school.

Synonyms

S

sure

vscertain

∞ 1.0

Feeling no doubt about something

is a general steady feeling of trust in a belief

C

confident

vscertain

759 2.5

Feeling sure about yourself or what will happen

is more about calm general trust than active self-assurance

C

convinced

vscertain

666 2.8

Feeling sure that something is true

is broader everyday confidence rather than focused firm belief

A

assured

vscertain

20 4.1

Confident and steady in voice or movement

is a more basic feeling of trust without notable poise

N

never in doubt

vscertain

5 6.8

Being completely sure about something even when you are wrong

is justified confidence tied to reasonable lack of doubt

S

sure as shooting

vscertain

• Informal

1 8.2

Completely certain that something will happen

is ordinary confidence without the strong idiomatic punch

S

sure as sugar

vscertain

• Informal

1 8.8

Certain to happen without any doubt

is plain confidence without the whimsical or rhyming style

S

sure as the world

vscertain

• Informal

1 9.1

Certain to happen

is modest confidence rather than a broad guaranteed claim

A

absotively sure

vscertain

• Informal

1 9.8

Completely certain that something is true

is normal confidence without the slang or heavy emphasis

P

posilutely certain

vscertain

• Informal

9.0

Completely sure in a strong, playful way

is regular steady confidence without theatrical emphasis

P

positutely sure

vscertain

• Informal

9.8

Completely certain that something is true

is everyday surety without the exaggerated finality

S

supersecure

vscertain

6.1

Very sure about something without any doubt

is typical confidence, not the extreme, all‑clear assurance

Antonyms

U

uncertain

41 3.9

Not feeling sure or confident

D

doubtful

14 3.0

Not sure about something and not ready to believe it

Idioms

F

for certain

86 1.3

To be completely sure and have no doubt

C

certain of

56 2.7

Sure that something is true or will happen

O

of a certain age

4 7.2

A polite way to talk about someone who is not young, often middle-aged

Compounds

P

posilutely certain

• Informal

9.0

Completely sure in a strong, playful way

How Certain

confident

759 2.5

certain

722 1.0

uncertain

41 3.9

Surface Forms

Etymology