certain
Usage
What are other ways to say certain?
Certain, one of a handful of adjectives indicating full belief and trust that something is true, suggests that there are definite reasons that have freed one from doubt. Confident emphasizes the strength of the belief or the certainty of expectation felt. Positive implies emphatic certainty, which may even become overconfidence or dogmatism. Sure, the simplest and most general term, expresses mere absence of doubt.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But it exposed just how differently certain slices of San Francisco envision what the city should look like, and how to make room for young people and newcomers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
He "looks certain to be ousted", it adds.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
To multiply rapidly, cancer cells activate certain genes far more strongly than healthy cells normally would.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 2, 2026
"At major competitions such as the World Cosplay Summit, people tend to want to wear costumes that involve a certain level of technical complexity and often have several layers," the electrical technician told AFP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
Doctors lacked advanced medical tools, so a corpse was watched for three days to be certain it did not awaken.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Vocabulary lists containing certain
The Real Deal: Synonyms for "True"
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List 1
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A Sure Thing: Synonyms for "Definite"
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