Certain: meaning, definitions and examples
💯
certain
[ ˈsərtən ]
feeling
Confident or sure about something.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- I am certain that she will pass the exam.
- He was certain of his decision to move abroad.
specific
Particular and specific, not general or indefinite.
Synonyms
definite, particular, specific
Examples of usage
- She gave me certain instructions on how to complete the task.
- I need to buy certain items for the party.
Translations
Translations of the word "certain" in other languages:
🇵🇹 certo
🇮🇳 निश्चित
🇩🇪 sicher
- bestimmt
- gewiss
🇮🇩 pasti
🇺🇦 певний
- точний
- певний (в значенні впевнений)
🇵🇱 pewien
🇯🇵 確か
🇫🇷 certain
🇪🇸 cierto
🇹🇷 kesin
🇰🇷 확실한
🇸🇦 مؤكد
🇨🇿 jistý
🇸🇰 istý
🇨🇳 确定的
🇸🇮 določen
🇮🇸 viss
🇰🇿 нақты
🇬🇪 დარწმუნებული
🇦🇿 müəyyən
🇲🇽 cierto
Etymology
The word 'certain' originated from the Latin word 'certus', meaning 'settled, determined, resolved'. Over time, it evolved in English to represent a state of being sure or confident about something. The dual nature of 'certain' as both a feeling of confidence and a specific quality adds depth to its usage in various contexts.
See also: certainly, certainty, uncertain, uncertainly, uncertainty.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #167, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.