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.
In the 1950s and ’60s, researchers developed Automated Theorem Provers that could examine long mathematical formulas to determine whether they were true under certain conditions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Yet the steady post-Oscar blowback and general friction surrounding Fennell made me certain I’d overrated it.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
An employer match might also be yours, depending on whether the company has a vesting schedule — a certain amount of time you need to work there in order for the funds to be yours.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
On a Sunday, normally there’s certain games, and they have big TVs in there, so you can watch the game while you’re having family time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The skeptical Lemuel Clark left that evening certain he had witnessed a miracle.
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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