English Dictionary
Definition of “uncertain”
uncertain (ʌnˈsɜːtənn
)
Definitions
adjective
- not able to be accurately known or predicted ⇒
the issue is uncertain
- when postpositive, often foll by of not sure or confident (about) ⇒
a man of uncertain opinion
- not precisely determined, established, or decided ⇒
uncertain plans
- not to be depended upon; unreliable ⇒
an uncertain vote
- liable to variation; changeable ⇒
the weather is uncertain
- See in no uncertain terms
Alternative Forms
unˈcertainly adverb unˈcertainness noun
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
unsure,
undecided,
at a loss,
vague,
unclear,
doubtful,
dubious,
ambivalent,
hazy,
hesitant,
vacillating,
in two minds,
undetermined,
irresolute,
=
doubtful,
undetermined,
unpredictable,
insecure,
questionable,
ambiguous,
unreliable,
precarious,
indefinite,
indeterminate,
incalculable,
iffy,
changeable,
indistinct,
chancy,
unforeseeable,
unsettled,
unresolved,
in the balance,
unconfirmed,
up in the air,
unfixed,
conjectural,
sketchy,
Translations
- British English:
uncertain
If you are uncertain about something, you do not know what to do.He was uncertain about his brother's plans.ʌnˈsɜːtn ADJECTIVE He was uncertain about his brother's plans.
- Spanish:
incierto
adj incierta
- French:
incertain
adj
- German:
ungewiss
adj
- Chinese: 不确定的 adj
- Arabic: مُتَرَدِّد adj
- Portuguese: incerto adj incerta
- Russian: неопределенный adj неопределенная
- Croatian: neizvjestan adj neizvjesna
- Czech: nejistý adj
- Danish: usikker adj
- Dutch: onzeker adj
- Finnish: epävarma adj
- Greek: αβέβαιος adj αβέβαιη
- Italian: incerto adj incerta
- Japanese: 不確実な no_posp
- Korean: 불확실한 adj
- Norwegian: usikker adj
- Polish: niepewny adj niepewna
- Brazilian Portuguese: incerto adj incerta
- European Spanish:
incierto
adj incierta
- Swedish: osäker adj osäkert
- Thai: ที่ไม่แน่นอน adj
- Turkish: belirsiz adj
- Vietnamese: không chắc chắn adj
Usage examples
We were young, we were pioneers, we were revered, even by those who were uncertain of our existence.
Mark Burnell, CHAMELEON (2002)The long-term future of JANE'S ADDICTION appears uncertain this afternoon (June 23) with rumours abound they're to split.
NME (New Musical Express) (2004)Even the defence, which used to be fairly settled, is now uncertain.
Irish Times (2002)Don't expect fireworks but this is a safe bet when you have a crowd of uncertain palates and varying tastes.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Still uncertain , however, was whether he would prove a force for radical renewal.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir, A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since 1945 (2003)
