certain
adjective
uk/ˈsɜː.tən/us/ˈsɝː.tən/certainadjective(WITHOUT DOUBT)
B1
having nodoubtorknowingexactlythat something istrue, orknownto betrue,correct,exact, oreffective:
肯定的，无疑的；有把握的；确定的[+ (that)]Are youabsolutelycertain(that)you gave them therightnumber?你敢肯定你给他们的号码没错吗？
Ifeelcertain(that)you're doing therightthing.我确信你做得对。
You shouldmakecertain(that)everyoneunderstandstheinstructions.你应该确保大家都能听懂指令。
Thepoliceseemcertain(that)they willfindthepeopleresponsiblefor theattack.警方似乎确信他们会查出这起袭击事件的责任人。
[+ question word]I'm not certainhowmuch it willcost.我不能确定这要花费多少钱。
He wasquitecertainabout/ofhis attacker'sidentity.他对袭击他的人的身份很肯定。
One thing is certain - she won'tresignwillingly.有一点是肯定的——她不会心甘情愿地辞职。
know/say for certain
C1
toknowor say something withoutdoubt:
确切知道；肯定地说I don'tknowfor certain if she's coming.我不能肯定她是否会来。
- I'mabsolutelycertain Ileftmypurseon thedesk.
- Ifeelcertain I'mright.
- He's not certain whether toinvestin thepropertymarket.
- Make certain that we have enoughdrinkfor theparty.
- It is by nomeanscertain that we'llfinishtheprojectbyJune.
Confidence & self-assurance
- amour propre
- aplomb
- assertive
- assertively
- assertiveness
- dogmatic
- dogmatically
- dogmatism
- dogmatist
- empowered
- rakish
- rakishly
- rakishness
- safe
- safety blanket
- surely
- swag
- swash
- tall
- to be sureidiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Certainty
certainadjective(EXTREMELY LIKELY)
B1
impossibletoavoidorextremelylikely:
不可避免地，必然地；极可能地[+ to infinitive]Thepopulationexplosionis certaintocausewidespreadfamine.人口激增必然会引起大范围的饥荒。
Oilpricesare certaintorisefollowingtheagreementtolimitproduction.限制石油生产的协议签订后油价必然会上涨。
After all his hardwork, he's certaintopasshisexams.凭他这么用功，一定会通过考试的。
Theteamlooksalmostcertaintowinthematch.这支球队看上去几乎准能赢得比赛。
[+ (that)]Itisvirtuallycertain(that)she willwinthegoldmedal.几乎可以肯定她会赢得金牌。
Even if aceasefirecan beagreed, how can theymakecertain(that)neithersidebreaksit?即便双方都同意停火，又怎么能确保他们不会出尔反尔呢？
Cancersufferersnolongerfacecertaindeathas theyoncedid.癌症患者不再像从前那样面临着必死的命运了。
Thisscandalwillmeancertaindefeatfor thepartyin theelection.这一丑闻将意味着该党在选举中必败无疑。
- Hisexecutionbecamecertain when thestateboardrefusedhisrequestforcommutation.
- With Steve Lewis at thehelm, we are certain ofsuccess.
- Reducing thenumberofstaffis certain toinflamethe alreadyangrymedicalprofession.
- It is by nomeanscertain that we'llfinishtheprojectbyJune.
- She isridingthefastesthorseand is certain toromphome.
Inevitable
- all roads lead to Romeidiom
- automatic
- automatically
- be (only) a matter of timeidiom
- be damned ifyoudo and damned ifyoudon'tidiom
- be nothing for itidiom
- be part and parcel ofsomethingidiom
- implacability
- implacable
- implacably
- inalienable
- ineluctable
- inexorably
- it can't be helpedidiom
- relentless
- relentlessly
- relentlessness
- seal
- unavoidably
- unstoppable
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Certainty
Possible and probable
certainadjective(NAMED)
[before noun]formal
namedbut neitherfamousnorknownwell:
某个，某位I hadlunchtoday with a certain George Michael - nottheGeorge Michael, I shouldexplain.我今天和一位叫乔治‧迈克尔的人共进了午餐——我得说明一下，不是那个乔治‧迈克尔。
Names and titles
- A.N. Other
- age
- aka
- alias
- appellation
- form of address
- given name
- good name
- identity
- ilk
- pen name
- pet name
- place name
- pseudonym
- pseudonymous
- trademark
- under the name ofidiom
- unidentified
- unnamed
- untitled
certainadjective(LIMITED)
[before noun]
limited:
有限的I likemodernartto a certainextent/degree, but I don't like the reallyexperimentalstuff.在一定程度上我还是喜欢现代艺术的，可是不喜欢太实验性的东西。
Small in number and quantity
- beggarly
- below
- bubkes
- could countsomethingon (the fingers of) one handidiom
- count
- drabs
- mingy
- minimal
- minimally
- modestly
- narrow
- outside
- remote
- scantly
- slenderness
- smallness
- some
- speak
- strength
- suggestion
certain
determiner
uk/ˈsɜː.tən/us/ˈsɝː.tən/B1
particularbut notnamedordescribed:
（没有指明或描述的）某，某个，某些We have certainreasonsforourdecision, which have toremainconfidential.我们作出这样的决定是有一定原因的，这些原因仍得保密。
Do youthinkwarisjustifiablein certaincircumstances?你是否认为在某些情况下战争是正当的？
Certainmembersof theaudiencemaydisagreewith what I'm about to say.听众中某些人可能会对我要说的话有异议。
a certain
B2
used before anounwhen it isdifficulttodescribesomethingexactlyor giveitsexactamount:
（用于名词之前，用于表示难以描述或估算的）某一个，某一种Thesonghas a certainappeal, but I'm notsurewhat it is.这首歌有某种感染力，可是我说不出到底是什么。
Ifelta certainsenseofjoythat hiscandidacyhadfailed.
I mustadmitthat she has a certainglamourabout her.
For all hisfinequalities, helackeda certainself-restraint.
It's anentertainingmovie, but there's a certainpredictabilityabout it.
- Thediseaseseemsto bespecificto certaintypesofplant.
- Somepeoplefindthat certainfoodstriggertheirheadaches.
- It's against thelawtoleavechildrenunder a certainagealonein thehouse.
- Farmers areeligibleforgovernmentsupportif theyleta certainamountoflandliefallow.
- I'mallergicto certainfoods.
Particular and individual
- be the very thingidiom
- biomarker
- calling card
- capita
- demesne
- especially
- head
- individual
- individuality
- individualized
- individually
- interindividual
- matter
- monotasking
- pet
- respectively
- separately
- severally
- specific
- specifically
certain
pronoun
formaluk/ˈsɜː.tən/us/ˈsɝː.tən/some:
一些，若干Certainofthecandidateswere well below theusualstandard, butotherswere very goodindeed.有些候选人离通常的标准差得很远，但其他一些确实很出色。
Some and quite
- (a) sort ofidiom
- a piece/slice/share of the pieidiom
- bit
- degree
- faintly
- fairly
- ha'porth
- halfway
- marginally
- mildly
- pretty
- quite
- rather
- remotely
- several
- some
- to a/some degreeidiom
- touch
- trifle
- vaguely