Meaning of UNCERTAIN
| Pronunciation: | | un'surtn
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [adj] especially in the negative"no uncertain," as in"spoke in no uncertain terms"
- [adj] not established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown; "an uncertain future"; "a manuscript of uncertain origin"; "plans are still uncertain"; "changes of great if uncertain consquences"; "without further evidence his story must remain uncertain"
- [adj] lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance; "uncertain of his convictions"; "unsure of himself and his future"; "moving with uncertain (or unsure) steps"; "an uncertain smile"; "touched the ornaments with uncertain fingers"
- [adj] not certain to occur; not inevitable; "everything is uncertain about the army"; "the issue is uncertain"
- [adj] not consistent or dependable; "an uncertain recollection of events"; "a gun with a rather uncertain trigger"
- [adj] subject to change; "a changeable climate"; "the weather is uncertain"; "unsettled weather with rain and hail and sunshine coming one right after the other"
- [adj] not established or confirmed; "his doom is as yet unsealed"
- [adj] not safe from danger or mishap; "faced an uncertain future"; "an unsure existence"
- [adj] not firm or secure; "balancing three boxes in an uncertain pile"
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| | Synonyms: | | ambiguous, ambivalent, chancy, changeable, contingent, doubtful, dubious, flukey, fluky, groping, hesitant, iffy, incertain, indefinite, insecure, undependable, unreliable, unsafe, unsealed, unsettled, unsure, up in the air, variable |
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| | Antonyms: | | certain, certain(p), sealed, sure | | |
| | See Also: | | indeterminate, undetermined, unpredictable | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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\Un*cer"tain\, a. [Pref. un- + certain. Cf.
{Incertain}.]
1. Not certain; not having certain knowledge; not assured in
mind; distrustful. --Chaucer.
Man, without the protection of a superior Being, . .
. is uncertain of everything that he hopes for.
--Tillotson.
2. Irresolute; inconsonant; variable; untrustworthy; as, an
uncertain person; an uncertain breeze.
O woman! in our hours of ease, Uncertain, coy, and
hard to please! --Sir W.
Scott.
3. Questionable; equivocal; indefinite; problematical. ``The
fashion of uncertain evils.'' --Milton.
From certain dangers to uncertain praise. --Dryden.
4. Not sure; liable to fall or err; fallible.
Soon bent his bow, uncertain in his aim. --Dryden.
Whistling slings dismissed the uncertain stone.
--Gay.
Syn: See {Precarious}.
\Un*cer"tain\, v. t. [1st pref. un- + certain; or fr.
uncertain, a.]
To make uncertain. [Obs.] --Sir W. Raleigh.
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