uncertain
- adjective
- /ʌnˈsɜrtn/
- He felt uncertain about which direction to take in his career.
- an uncertain future
- remain uncertain
- face an uncertain future
They would rather the certain doom than the uncertain potential of surviving.
- They would rather the certain doom than the uncertain potential of surviving.
- It was this weird, uncertain new thing back then.
- And so this really makes it an order of magnitude less uncertain than gold.
- That makes the future less uncertain and that makes us more future oriented.
- And then just the landscape right now is so uncertain.
- And then when you try to use these, you lapse into inadmissible and uncertain assertions.
- So serious caution to those getting it from uncertain sources.
- And recognizing that we're living through uncertain, challenging and unprecedented times.
- And then you estimate the five, which is your first uncertain digit.
Examples
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These are lean and uncertain times.
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One way to gain insights into the uncertain future is to construct what are known as scenarios.
Academic text (1999) -
And our members tell us that how uncertain and complex all of this is.
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I might choose not to risk my life for an uncertain cause.
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Everything becomes larger and more uncertain as you move into adult life.
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We live in a very uncertain time financially.
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Their future remains uncertain as they face both human and environmental threats.
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Tonight, the star himself is reported to be in Paris contemplating an uncertain future.
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The Kurds in Syria face a new and uncertain future.
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Many investors are worried because the economic outlook is uncertain.
Synonyms
Not clear or detailed so you are unsure what is meant
Not certain because people doubt or suspect it
Not confident or certain about what to do
Not yet sure which option or side to choose
Made or said without being fully certain, often as a trial
Gives no clear decision or result
Not clearly fixed or known, with no set end date
Not yet decided or settled
Not certain or reliable
Not sure about something and not ready to believe it
Not yet proven to be true or official
Not yet decided or known
Not clearly known or decided
Weather that often changes, bringing rain or strong wind
You cannot know for sure
Not clearly defined so limits are unclear
Not sure what will happen or what people will decide
It is not possible to know for sure
Antonyms
Idioms
How Certain
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Uncertain comes from the parts un- ('not') and certain ('sure' or 'fixed'). So if something is uncertain it is 'not sure' or 'not fixed', which is why it is not definite or may change.