certain
/ˈsɜːrtn/adjective★Intermediate— definite or sure
general
having no doubt; sure
She is certain of her success.
She is confident and sure that she will succeed.
💡
Often used to express strong confidence or assurance.
general
a specific but unspecified person or thing
A certain someone left a gift at my door.
An unspecified person left a gift at my door.
💡
Used to refer to someone or something without naming them directly.
Collocations
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use 'certain' to express strong confidence or to refer to an unspecified person or thing.
⚡Gold Rule
Grammar Rule
'Certain' can function as both an adjective and a determiner, but its meaning changes based on context.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'certain', from Latin 'certus', meaning 'determined, resolved, sure'.
📝Usage Notes
Can be used as an adjective to describe a state of confidence or as a determiner to refer to an unspecified person or thing.
Word Breakdown
cert
sure, determined
root-ain
belonging to
suffixEnglish Dictionary