{
    "term": "certain",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "strongly believing something; having no doubts",
            "sensetop": "certain (that)…certain about somethingcertain of somethingcertain who/where, etc…",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I think it was him, but I can't be certain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She wasn’t certain (that) he had seen her.",
                    "contextForm": "certain (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**I'm certain** we'll think of something."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Are you **absolutely certain** about this?",
                    "contextForm": "certain about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I am not certain of the precise date.",
                    "contextForm": "certain of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm not certain who was there.",
                    "contextForm": "certain who/where, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "To my certain knowledge he was somewhere else at the time (= I am sure about it)."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I grew more and more certain that she was lying to me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wasn't certain who he'd given the papers to."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You have to be quite certain of the facts before making a decision."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "feel", "look"],
                "adverb": ["very", "absolutely", "quite"],
                "preposition": ["about", "of"],
                "phrases": ["can’t say for certain", "not know for certain"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "that you can rely on to happen or to be true",
            "sensetop": "it is certain (that)…certain to do somethingcertain of something/of doing something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The climbers face certain death if the rescue today is unsuccessful."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is certain that they will agree.",
                    "contextForm": "it is certain (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was not certain that the bones were even human."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She **looks certain** to win an Oscar.",
                    "contextForm": "certain to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **seemed certain** to be defeated in the election."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The death toll was **almost certain** to rise."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are certain to agree."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**One thing is certain**—it will be exciting."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If you want to be certain of getting a ticket, book now.",
                    "contextForm": "certain of something/of doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Digby looked certain to be the next president."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's by no means certain that she'll get the job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If you want to be certain of getting into the concert, buy your ticket now."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "feel", "look"],
                "adverb": ["very", "absolutely", "quite"],
                "preposition": ["about", "of"],
                "phrases": ["can’t say for certain", "not know for certain"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "used to mention a particular thing, person or group without giving any more details about it or them",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "For certain personal reasons I shall not be able to attend."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Certain people might disagree with this."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This car appeals to a **certain type** of driver."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You can choose to watch only certain kinds of movies."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They refused to release their hostages unless certain conditions were met."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The president can under certain circumstances dissolve parliament."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "slight; easy to notice, but difficult to describe",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "That's true, **to a certain extent**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I experienced a **certain amount** of relief."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I felt there was a certain coldness in her manner."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "used with a person’s name to show that the speaker does not know the person",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It was a certain Dr Davis who performed the operation."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "without doubt",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I can't say for certain when we'll arrive."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We don't know for certain how many people are coming."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I think she's a teacher, but I couldn't say for certain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He couldn't say for certain whether she would be there."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to find out whether something is definitely true",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I think there's a bus at 8 but you'd better call to make certain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Make certain that you lock the door if you go out."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to do something in order to be sure that something else will happen",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You'll have to leave soon to make certain of getting there on time."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if you talk about a person being of a certain age, you mean that they are no longer young but not yet old",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The show appeals to an audience of a certain age."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɜːtn/",
                "audio": "ce/certain/certain__gb_3.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɜːrtn/",
                "audio": "ce/certain/certain__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin certus ‘settled, sure’."
}