certainly
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cer·tain·ly
(sûr′tn-lē)adv.
1. Undoubtedly; definitely: This is certainly not my writing.
2. By all means; of course: You may certainly join us.
3. Surely: They certainly are hard workers.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
certainly
(ˈsɜːtənlɪ)adv
with certainty; without doubt: he certainly rides very well.
sentence substitute
by all means; definitely: used in answer to questions
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
cer•tain•ly
(ˈsɜr tn li)adv.
1. without doubt; assuredly: I'll certainly be there.
2. yes, of course: Certainly, take the keys.
3. surely; to be sure: She certainly is successful.
[1250–1300]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
certainly
1. emphasizing and agreeing
Certainly is used to emphasize statements. You often use certainly when you are agreeing with something that has been said or confirming that something is true.
It certainly looks wonderful, doesn't it?
Ellie was certainly a student at the university but I'm not sure about her brother.
Be Careful!
Don't confuse certainly and surely. You use surely to express disagreement or surprise.
Surely you care about what happens to her.
Both British and American speakers use certainly to respond positively to a question or statement.
'Do you see this as a good result?' – 'Oh, certainly.'
American speakers also use surely in this way.
'Can I have a drink?' – 'Why, surely.'
2. position in sentence
Certainly is usually used to modify verbs.
If there is no auxiliary verb, you put certainly in front of the verb, unless the verb is be.
It certainly gave some of her visitors a fright.
If the verb is be, certainly can go either in front of it or after it. It usually goes after it.
That certainly isn't true.
If there is an auxiliary verb, you usually put certainly after the auxiliary verb.
He'd certainly proved his point.
If there is more than one auxiliary verb, you usually put certainly after the first one. Certainly can also go in front of the first auxiliary verb.
He will certainly be able to offer you advice.
The roadway certainly could be widened.
If you use an auxiliary verb without a main verb, you put certainly in front of the auxiliary verb.
'I don't know whether I've succeeded or not.' – 'Oh, you certainly have.'
You can also put certainly at the beginning of a sentence.
Certainly it was not the act of a sane man.
3. 'almost certainly'
If you think that something is true, but you are not quite sure about it, you can use almost certainly.
She will almost certainly be left with some brain damage.
Be Careful!
Don't put 'nearly' in front of certainly.
surely
– definitely – certainly – naturally1. 'surely'
You use surely for emphasis when you are objecting to something that has been said or done.
'I can have it ready for next week.' – 'Surely you can get it done sooner than that?'
Their lawyers claim that they have not broken any rules, but surely this is not good practice.
2. 'definitely' and 'certainly'
Don't use 'surely' simply to give strong emphasis to a statement. Use definitely.
They were definitely not happy.
The call definitely came from your phone.
In British English, you don't use 'surely' when you are agreeing with something that has been said, or confirming that something is true. Use certainly.
Ellie was certainly a student at the university but I'm not sure about her brother.
'You like him, don't you?' – 'I certainly do.'
American speakers use both surely and certainly to agree with requests and statements.
'It is still a difficult world for women.' – 'Oh, certainly.'
Surely, yes, I agree with that.
Don't use 'surely' to say emphatically that something will happen in the future. Use definitely or certainly.
The conference will definitely be postponed.
If nothing is done, there will certainly be problems.
3. 'naturally'
Don't use 'surely' to emphasize that something is what you would expect in particular circumstances. Use naturally.
His sister was crying, so naturally Sam was upset.
Naturally, some of the information will be irrelevant.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adv. 1. certainly - definitely or positively (`sure' is sometimes used informally for `surely'); "the results are surely encouraging"; "she certainly is a hard worker"; "it's going to be a good day for sure"; "they are coming, for certain"; "they thought he had been killed sure enough"; "he'll win sure as shooting"; "they sure smell good"; "sure he'll come"
colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
certainly
adverb definitely, surely, truly, absolutely, undoubtedly, positively, decidedly, without doubt, unquestionably, undeniably, without question, unequivocally, indisputably, assuredly, indubitably, doubtlessly, come hell or high water, irrefutably I'll certainly do all I can to help.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
certainly
adverbWithout question:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
بالتَّأكيدبِلَا شَكّ طَبْعاً!طَبْعا، بالتَّأكيد
jistěovšemsamozřejměurčitě
bestemthelt bestemthelt sikkertselvfølgelig
بطور محرز
varmasti
בוודאותבוודאי
sigurno
föltétlenül
Auîvitaî, aî sjálfsögîuvissulega, aî sjálfsögîuvissulega, áreiîanlega
確かに
확실히
bineînţelesdesigur
isteže
gotovosevedazagotovo
säkert
อย่างแน่นอน
chắc chắn
certainly
[ˈsɜːtənlɪ] ADV1. (= undoubtedly) → con toda certeza, sin duda alguna
if nothing is done there will certainly be an economic crisis → si no se hace nada, con toda certeza or sin duda alguna se producirá una crisis económica
your answer is almost certainly right → casi seguro que or casi con seguridad tu respuesta está bien
it is certainly true that → desde luego es verdad or cierto que ...
if nothing is done there will certainly be an economic crisis → si no se hace nada, con toda certeza or sin duda alguna se producirá una crisis económica
your answer is almost certainly right → casi seguro que or casi con seguridad tu respuesta está bien
it is certainly true that → desde luego es verdad or cierto que ...
2. (= definitely) something should certainly be done about that → decididamente, deberían hacer algo al respecto
I will certainly get it finished by tomorrow → definitivamente lo termino para mañana
it's certainly better → desde luego es mucho mejor
this computer is certainly an improvement on the old one → este ordenador es sin ninguna duda mejor que el antiguo
it certainly impressed me → ya lo creo que me impresionó
I shall certainly be there → no faltaré, seguro que estaré
you certainly did that well → desde luego eso lo hiciste bien
I would certainly like to try → desde luego (que) me gustaría probar
such groups most certainly exist → esos grupos existen con toda seguridad
I will certainly get it finished by tomorrow → definitivamente lo termino para mañana
it's certainly better → desde luego es mucho mejor
this computer is certainly an improvement on the old one → este ordenador es sin ninguna duda mejor que el antiguo
it certainly impressed me → ya lo creo que me impresionó
I shall certainly be there → no faltaré, seguro que estaré
you certainly did that well → desde luego eso lo hiciste bien
I would certainly like to try → desde luego (que) me gustaría probar
such groups most certainly exist → esos grupos existen con toda seguridad
3. (in answer to questions, requests) "could you give me a lift?" - "certainly!" → -¿me podrías llevar? -¡claro (que sí)! or ¡por supuesto! or ¡faltaría más!
certainly madam! → ¡con mucho gusto, señora!, ¡por supuesto, señora!
"wouldn't you agree?" - "oh, certainly" → -¿estás de acuerdo? -sí, desde luego
"had you forgotten?" - "certainly not" → -¿se le había olvidado? -por supuesto que no or claro que no
"would you ever eat snake?" - "certainly not!" → -¿comerías serpiente? -¡qué va!
"will you accept his offer?" - "certainly not!" → -¿vas a aceptar su oferta? -¡qué va! or ¡de ninguna manera!
"can I go on my own?" - "certainly not!" → -¿puedo ir sola? -¡de eso nada! or ¡ni hablar!
certainly madam! → ¡con mucho gusto, señora!, ¡por supuesto, señora!
"wouldn't you agree?" - "oh, certainly" → -¿estás de acuerdo? -sí, desde luego
"had you forgotten?" - "certainly not" → -¿se le había olvidado? -por supuesto que no or claro que no
"would you ever eat snake?" - "certainly not!" → -¿comerías serpiente? -¡qué va!
"will you accept his offer?" - "certainly not!" → -¿vas a aceptar su oferta? -¡qué va! or ¡de ninguna manera!
"can I go on my own?" - "certainly not!" → -¿puedo ir sola? -¡de eso nada! or ¡ni hablar!
4. (= granted) certainly, she has potential, but → desde luego tiene posibilidades, pero ..., no hay duda de que tiene posibilidades, pero ...
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
certainly
[ˈsɜːrtənli] adv (= definitely) [seem, appear] → certainement ; [think, expect] → vraiment
I certainly expected something better → Je m'attendais vraiment à quelque chose de mieux.
So it was a surprise? - It certainly was!
BUT C'était donc une surprise? - Ça oui alors!.
certainly not! → certainement pas!
it's certainly true that ... → il ne fait aucun doute que ...
I certainly expected something better → Je m'attendais vraiment à quelque chose de mieux.
So it was a surprise? - It certainly was!
BUT C'était donc une surprise? - Ça oui alors!.
certainly not! → certainement pas!
it's certainly true that ... → il ne fait aucun doute que ...
(= of course) → bien sûr
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
certainly
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
certainly
[ˈsɜːt/ənlɪ] adv → certamente, certocertainly! → (ma) certo!
certainly not! → no di certo!
I shall certainly be there → ci sarò sicuramente, ci sarò certamente
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
certain
(ˈsəːtn) adjective1. true or without doubt. It's certain that the world is round. seker مُؤَكَّد сигурен certo jistý sicher sikker αληθινός, αδιαμφισβήτητος cierto vaieldamatu مسلم؛ بی تردید tosi certain ודאי, בטוח निश्चित siguran, nedvojben biztos pasti einhver, nokkur certo, indubbio 確かな 의심 없는 tikras drošs; nešaubīgs pasti zeker sikker, viss pewny يقينى، متيقن: ټاكلى: داعتمادوړ: نه تيريدونكى certo sigur несомненный istý nedvomen izvestan sann ซึ่งแท้จริง kuşkusuz, şüphesiz 千真萬確的,無疑的 певний, відомий سچ ، بلا شک و شبہ đích xác 确凿的,无疑的
2. sure. I'm certain he'll come; He is certain to forget; Being late is a certain way of losing one's job. seker مُتَأَكِّد убеден seguro jistý, zaručený sicher sikker βέβαιος seguro kindel مطمئن varma certain בטוח पक्का siguran biztos yakin viss, öruggur sicuro 確かな 확실한 tikras, įsitikinęs drošs; noteikts mesti zeker sikker, viss, overbevist om pewny متیقن seguro sigur уверенный istý prepričan; zanesljiv siguran säker ที่มั่นใจ emin, hiç kuşkusuz, kesin 確信的 упевнений یقینی chắc chắn 确信的
3. one or some, not definitely named. certain doctors; a certain Mrs Smith; (also pronoun) certain of his friends. seker معيّن، ما известен certo jakýsi, nějaký; někdo bestimmt vis; bestemt κάποιος cierto teatav, mõningad یکی از؛ برخی از määrätty certain מישהו असंदिग्ध određen, neki bizonyos seorang tiltekinn, viss, ákveðinn certo; qualche, qualcuno ある 어떤 kažkoks, kažkuris kāds; zināms seorang zeker, bepaald viss, bestemt pewien د برخه certo anumit некоторый; некий nejaký; niekto neki; nekateri izvesni viss ไม่มีชื่อเฉพาะ bir, bazı, kimi 某個或某些 певний کوئی ، کوئی ایک nào đó 某个或某些
4. slight; some. a certain hostility in his manner; a certain amount. seker قَليل някакъв certo jistý, určitý gewiß vis σχετικός, κάποιος cierto teatav کم؛ اندک tietynasteinen certain מסוים कुछ neki egy kevés sedikit viss, nokkur certo ある程度の 어느 정도의 tam tikras, kažkoks zināms tertentu zeker viss pewien لږ certo anumit некоторый istý določen određeni viss บางอย่าง biraz, bir miktar 一些 якийсь قدرے ، تھوڑا سا phần nào 一些
ˈcertainly adverb1. definitely. I can't come today, but I'll certainly come tomorrow. sekerlik, beslis بالتَّأكيد определено certamente určitě, jistě bestimmt helt sikkert; helt bestemt σίγουρα seguro kindlasti حتماً؛ یقیناً varmasti certainement בְּוַדַאי निश्चित रूप से zacijelo, dakako biztosan pasti vissulega, áreiðanlega certamente 確かに 확실히 tikrai noteikti pastinya zeker sikkert, bestemt na pewno حتمن de certeza sigur непременно určite gotovo svakako bestämt, otvivelaktigt อย่างแน่นอน mutlaka, kesinlikle 一定 звичайно یقیناً chắc chắn 一定
2. of course. You may certainly have a chocolate. natuurlik طَبْعا، بالتَّأكيد разбира се certamente samozřejmě natürlich selvfølgelig βεβαίως desde luego, por supuesto muidugi مسلماً tietenkin certainement ללא ספק अवश्य svakako föltétlenül tentu vissulega, að sjálfsögðu certamente きっと 물론 žinoma protams sudah tentu natuurlijk visst, selvfølgelig naturalnie مسلماَ certamente bineînţeles конечно samozrejme seveda svakako naturligtvis อย่างแน่นอน elbette, tabiî, kuşkusuz, şüphesiz 當然 неодмінно بے شک ، یقیناً tất nhiên 当然
interjection of course. `May I borrow your typewriter?' `Certainly!'; `Certainly not!' ja, seker طَبْعاً! естествено certamente ovšem aber natürlich selvfølgelig φυσικά! (επιφ.) por supuesto muidugi البته totta kai certainement בוודאי निश्चित रूप से svakako hogyne! tentu saja Auðvitað, að sjálfsögðu certo!; no di certo! もちろん 물론 žinoma protams! sudah pasti natuurlijk klart !; så gjerne!; selvfølgelig!; ja visst! bezwzględnie خامخا certamente bineînţeles конечно iste(že), pravdaže seveda Naravno naturligtvis, absolut อย่างแน่นอน tabiî, hay hay, memnuniyetle 當然 звичайно قطعاً tất nhiên 当然
ˈcertainty – plural ˈcertainties – noun1. something which cannot be doubted. It's a certainty that he will win. sekerheid أَمْرٌ مُؤَكَّدٌ несъмнен факт certeza jistá věc die Sicherheit vished; sikkerhed βεβαιότητα certeza, seguridad kindel asi یقین؛ اطمینان itsestäänselvyys certitude ודאות निस्संदेह sigurnost, izvjesnost bizonyosság kepastian vissa certezza, cosa certa 確実なこと 확실성 tikras daiktas, neabejotinas dalykas drošība; noteiktība tanpa ragu-ragu zekerheid sikkerhet, visshet pewność, pewnik اطمينان، خاطرجمعى حقيقى، ايقان certeza несомненный факт istá vec gotovost izvesnost någonting säkert, en given sak ความแน่นอน besbelli, kesin 必然發生的事 безперечний факт تیقن ، یقینی بات điều chắc chắn 必然的事情
2. freedom from doubt. Is there any certainty of success? sekerheid يَقين убеденост certeza jistota die Gewißheit vished; sikkerhed βεβαιότητα certeza kindlus قطعیت varmuus certitude בִּטָחוֹן निश्चितता sigurnost bizonyosság keyakinan vissa sicurezza 確実性 의심의 여지없이 tikrumas pārliecība kepastian zekerheid sikkerhet, visshet pewność ازادى، خپلواكى، استقلال اختيار، سپينوالى (دلهجى صراحت): اسانتيا certeza certitudine уверенность istota zanesljivost izvesnost visshet สิ่งที่แน่นอน kesinlik 毫無疑問,確定性 упевненість بلا شبہ sự tin chắc 亳无疑问,确定的事
for certain definitely. She may come but she can't say for certain. vir seker بِالتَّأكيد със сигурност com certeza najisto, určitě ganz sicher bestemt; med sikkerhed σίγουρα con certeza, con toda seguridad kindlalt بدون شک؛ قطعاً varmasti avec certitude בְּווַדַאוּת निश्चित sigurnost biztosan dengan keyakinan með vissu di sicuro 確かに 확실히 tikrai droši; noteikti semestinya met zekerheid med sikkerhet, sikkert na pewno صریح com certeza (în mod) sigur наверняка určite zagotovo sasvim sigurno säkert, med säkerhet อย่างชัดเจน kesin olarak 肯定地 впевнено یقیناً بالیقین hoàn toàn chắc chắn 肯定地
make certain to act so that, or check that, something is sure. Make certain you arrive early; I think he's dead but you'd better make certain. seker maak يَتَأكَّد уверявам се assegurar-se ujistit se, přesvědčit se sich vergewissern sikre sig βεβαιώνομαι asegurar (millegi eest) hoolt kandma, üle kontrollima مطمئن شدن؛ اطمینان به عمل آوردن varmistaa s'assurer que לְווַדֵא निश्चित करना sigurnost megbizonyosodik vmiről memastikan ganga úr skugga um assicurarsi, accertarsi 確かめる 확실히 하다 pa(si)tikrinti, daryti taip, kad būtum tikras pārliecināties pastikan zorgen forsikre seg om upewniać się ډاډ وركول، ذمه وهل، علم راوړل، اعتباري كول، يقيني كول، يقيني ګڼل، پرغاړه اخستل، بيمه كول ter a certeza a se asigura (că) удостовериться uistiť sa, presvedčiť sa prepričati se uveriti se förvissa sig om อย่างชัดเจน garantiye almak, emin olmak 確定 упевнитися в чомусь یقینی بنانا kiểm tra lại 弄清楚
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
certainly
→ بِلَا شَكّ jistě bestemt sicher οπωσδήποτε ciertamente , definitivamente varmasti certainement sigurno certamente 確かに 확실히 beslist sikkert na pewno certamente конечно säkert อย่างแน่นอน kesinlikle chắc chắn 的确Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009