CERTAIN

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does certain mean? 

• CERTAIN (adjective)
  The adjective CERTAIN has 7 senses:

1. definite but not specified or identified

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

3. established beyond doubt or question; definitely known

4. certain to occur; destined or inevitable

5. established irrevocably

6. reliable in operation or effect

7. exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

  Familiarity information: CERTAIN used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CERTAIN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Definite but not specified or identified

Context example:

a certain Mrs. Jones

Similar:

definite (precise; explicit and clearly defined)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

Synonyms:

certain; sure

Context example:

sure of her friends

Similar:

confident; convinced; positive (persuaded of; very sure)

Attribute:

certainty (the state of being certain)

assurance; authority; confidence; self-assurance; self-confidence; sureness (freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities)

Antonym:

uncertain (lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Established beyond doubt or question; definitely known

Context example:

the date for the invasion is certain

Similar:

definite (known for certain)

indisputable; sure (impossible to doubt or dispute)

sure as shooting (absolutely certain)

Attribute:

certainty; foregone conclusion; sure thing (something that is certain)

Antonym:

uncertain (not established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Certain to occur; destined or inevitable

Synonyms:

certain; sure

Context example:

he is sure to win

Similar:

bound; destined ((usually followed by 'to') governed by fate)

doomed; fated ((usually followed by 'to') determined by tragic fate)

foreordained; predestinate; predestined (established or prearranged unalterably)

in for (certain to get or have)

Also:

predictable (capable of being foretold)

Antonym:

uncertain (not certain to occur; not inevitable)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Established irrevocably

Synonyms:

certain; sealed

Context example:

his fate is sealed

Sense 6

Meaning:

Reliable in operation or effect

Synonyms:

certain; sure

Context example:

wood dust is a sure sign of termites

Similar:

dependable; reliable (worthy of reliance or trust)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance

Synonyms:

certain; sure

Context example:

be sure to lock the doors

Similar:

careful (exercising caution or showing care or attention)

 Context examples 

I can’t say for certain, because it all depends—well, it all depends upon a factor which is completely outside our control.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was equally certain that the same stranger had, while standing at the window, drugged his curried mutton, and so deprived the stables of their watchman.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“A thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor creature.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Knowing his vindictive nature, I was perfectly certain that he would come to look upon his handiwork.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We were greatly impressed by them at the time, but certain arrangements already entered into prevented our taking them.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Neither did I find the emperor at all displeased; and I discovered, by a certain accident, that he was very glad of my resolution, and so were most of his ministers.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Of one thing only am I certain; that it is no use making my ideas known to the Count.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Each fall, when the Yeehats follow the movement of the moose, there is a certain valley which they never enter.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

But, whether she was afraid of singing before people, or was out of voice that evening, it was certain that she couldn't sing at all.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“Your tongue goes like the clapper of a mill-wheel. Sit down here, friend, and partake of this herring. Understand first, however, that there are certain conditions attached to it.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)