uncertain
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un·cer·tain
(ŭn-sûr′tn)adj.
1. Not known or established; questionable: domestic changes of great if uncertain consequences.
2. Not determined; undecided: uncertain plans.
3. Not having sure knowledge: an uncertain recollection of the sequence of events.
4.
a. Subject to change; variable: uncertain weather.
b. Unsteady; fitful: uncertain light.
un·cer′tain·ly adv.
un·cer′tain·ness n.
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.
uncertain
(ʌnˈsɜːtən)adj
1. not able to be accurately known or predicted: the issue is uncertain.
2. (when: postpositive, often foll by of) not sure or confident (about): a man of uncertain opinion.
3. not precisely determined, established, or decided: uncertain plans.
4. not to be depended upon; unreliable: an uncertain vote.
5. liable to variation; changeable: the weather is uncertain.
6. in no uncertain terms
a. unambiguously
b. forcefully
unˈcertainly adv
unˈcertainness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
un•cer•tain
(ʌnˈsɜr tn)adj.
1. not known precisely; not fixed, as in time of occurrence, number, or size.
2. not confident or assured; hesitant.
3. not clearly determined; unknown: a manuscript of uncertain origin.
4. vague or indistinct.
5. variable; unstable.
6. unreliable.
[1250–1300]
un•cer′tain•ly, adv.
un•cer′tain•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Adj. | 1. |  uncertain - 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" |
| 2. | uncertain - 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 consequences"; "without further evidence his story must remain uncertain" indeterminate, undetermined - not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance; "of indeterminate age"; "a zillion is a large indeterminate number"; "an indeterminate point of law"; "the influence of environment is indeterminate"; "an indeterminate future" certain - established beyond doubt or question; definitely known; "what is certain is that every effect must have a cause"; "it is certain that they were on the bus"; "his fate is certain"; "the date for the invasion is certain" | |
| 3. |  uncertain - not established or confirmed; "his doom is as yet unsealed" | |
| 4. |  uncertain - not certain to occur; not inevitable; "everything is uncertain about the army"; "the issue is uncertain"unpredictable - not capable of being foretold | |
| 5. |  uncertain - subject to change; "a changeable climate"; "the weather is uncertain"; "unsettled weather with rain and hail and sunshine coming one right after the other"variable - liable to or capable of change; "rainfall in the tropics is notoriously variable"; "variable winds"; "variable expenses" | |
| 6. |  uncertain - not consistent or dependable; "an uncertain recollection of events"; "a gun with a rather uncertain trigger"undependable, unreliable - not worthy of reliance or trust; "in the early 1950s computers were large and expensive and unreliable"; "an undependable assistant" | |
| 7. |  uncertain - ambiguous (especially in the negative); "she spoke in no uncertain terms"ambiguous - having more than one possible meaning; "ambiguous words"; "frustrated by ambiguous instructions, the parents were unable to assemble the toy" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
uncertain
adjective
1. unsure, undecided, at a loss, vague, unclear, doubtful, dubious, ambivalent, hazy, hesitant, vacillating, in two minds, undetermined, irresolute He stopped, uncertain how to put the question tactfully.
unsure sure, certain, positive, resolute, unhesitating
unsure sure, certain, positive, resolute, unhesitating
2. doubtful, undetermined, unpredictable, insecure, questionable, ambiguous, unreliable, precarious, indefinite, indeterminate, incalculable, iffy (informal), changeable, indistinct, chancy, unforeseeable, unsettled, unresolved, in the balance, unconfirmed, up in the air, unfixed, conjectural Students all over the country are facing an uncertain future.
doubtful decided, certain, known, clear, firm, fixed, settled, reliable, predictable, definite, clear-cut, unambiguous
doubtful decided, certain, known, clear, firm, fixed, settled, reliable, predictable, definite, clear-cut, unambiguous
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
uncertain
adjective1. Not affording certainty:
ambiguous, borderline, chancy, clouded, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, inconclusive, indecisive, indeterminate, problematic, problematical, questionable, unclear, unsure.
Informal: iffy.
Idioms: at issue, in doubt, in question.
2. In doubt or dispute:
3. Liable to more than one interpretation:
4. Of dubious character:
Informal: fishy.
5. Marked by lack of firm decision or commitment; of questionable outcome:
Idiom: up in the air.
7. Capable of or liable to change:
alterable, changeable, fluid, inconstant, mutable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, variant.
Archaic: various.
8. Following no predictable pattern:
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
غَيْر مُؤَكَّد، مُبْهَم، غامِضغَيْر مُتأكِّدمُتَرَدِّد
nejistýnerozhodný
usikker
epävarma
nesiguran
óljós; óstöîuguróviss
不確実な
불확실한
mainīgsnedrošsnenoteiktsnepārliecinātsnepastāvīgs
negotovneodločen
osäker
ที่ไม่แน่นอน
không chắc chắn
uncertain
[ʌnˈsɜːtn] ADJ1. (= unsure) for a moment he looked uncertain → por un momento pareció no estar seguro
to be uncertain about/of sth → no estar seguro de algo
she is uncertain about the future/what to do next/how to proceed → no está segura sobre el futuro/de qué hacer ahora/de cómo proceder
I am uncertain as to whether she was involved in the accident → no estoy seguro si ella estuvo implicada en el accidente
I am uncertain whether to accept → no estoy seguro si aceptar
to be uncertain about/of sth → no estar seguro de algo
she is uncertain about the future/what to do next/how to proceed → no está segura sobre el futuro/de qué hacer ahora/de cómo proceder
I am uncertain as to whether she was involved in the accident → no estoy seguro si ella estuvo implicada en el accidente
I am uncertain whether to accept → no estoy seguro si aceptar
2. (= doubtful) [future, outcome, destiny] → incierto
the fate of the refugees remains uncertain → la suerte de los refugiados sigue siendo incierta or sigue sin conocerse
in no uncertain terms → sin dejar lugar a dudas, claramente
the fate of the refugees remains uncertain → la suerte de los refugiados sigue siendo incierta or sigue sin conocerse
in no uncertain terms → sin dejar lugar a dudas, claramente
3. (= changeable) [conditions] → inestable; [weather, temper] → variable
we live in uncertain times → vivimos en unos tiempos muy inestables
we live in uncertain times → vivimos en unos tiempos muy inestables
5. (= indeterminate) → indeterminado
a smartly-dressed man of uncertain age → un hombre elegantemente vestido de edad indeterminada
a smartly-dressed man of uncertain age → un hombre elegantemente vestido de edad indeterminada
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
uncertain
[ʌnˈsɜːrtən] adj (= unsure) [person] to be uncertain → avoir des doutes
to be uncertain about sth → ne pas être sûr(e) de qch, avoir des doutes au sujet de qch
I'm still uncertain about how much we've got left → Je ne suis toujours pas sûr de combien il nous reste., J'ai toujours des doutes quant à ce qu'il nous reste exactement.
to be uncertain of sth → ne pas être sûr de qch, avoir des doutes sur qch
to be uncertain how to do sth → ne pas savoir comment faire qch, avoir des doutes quant à la manière de faire qch
to be uncertain whether to do sth → ne pas savoir si l'on doit faire qch
We were uncertain whether to leave → Nous ne savions pas si nous devions partir.
to be uncertain about sth → ne pas être sûr(e) de qch, avoir des doutes au sujet de qch
I'm still uncertain about how much we've got left → Je ne suis toujours pas sûr de combien il nous reste., J'ai toujours des doutes quant à ce qu'il nous reste exactement.
to be uncertain of sth → ne pas être sûr de qch, avoir des doutes sur qch
to be uncertain how to do sth → ne pas savoir comment faire qch, avoir des doutes quant à la manière de faire qch
to be uncertain whether to do sth → ne pas savoir si l'on doit faire qch
We were uncertain whether to leave → Nous ne savions pas si nous devions partir.
(= not known, not definite) [future, outcome] → incertain(e)
The future is uncertain → L'avenir est incertain.
it's uncertain whether ... → on ne sait si ...
It's uncertain whether they will accept the plan → On ne sait s'ils accepteront le plan.
The future is uncertain → L'avenir est incertain.
it's uncertain whether ... → on ne sait si ...
It's uncertain whether they will accept the plan → On ne sait s'ils accepteront le plan.
(= hesitant) [smile, voice, steps] → incertain(e)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
uncertain
adj
(= unsure, unsteady) → unsicher; light → undeutlich, schwach; I was uncertain as to what to do → ich war unsicher, was ich tun sollte; to be uncertain whether … → sich (dat) → nicht sicher sein, ob …; to be uncertain of or about something → sich (dat) → einer Sache (gen) → nicht sicher sein; he’s still uncertain of the contract → er ist noch im Ungewissen über den Vertrag
(= unknown) date, result → ungewiss; origins → unbestimmt; a woman of uncertain age (hum) → eine Frau von unbestimmtem Alter
(= unreliable) weather, prices → unbeständig; temper → unberechenbar; judgement → unverlässlich, unzuverlässig
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
uncertain
[ʌnˈsɜːtn] adj (person, future, result) → incerto/a; (aims) → vago/a; (temper) → instabileI'm uncertain about what to do → sono incerto sul da farsi
it is uncertain whether → non è sicuro se
he is uncertain whether → non sa bene se
in no uncertain terms → chiaro e tondo, senza mezzi termini
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
uncertain
(anˈsəːtn) adjective1. (of a person) not sure; not definitely knowing. I'm uncertain of my future plans; The government is uncertain what is the best thing to do.
2. not definitely known or settled. My plans are still uncertain; The uncertain weather delayed our departure.
unˈcertainly adverbKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
uncertain
→ مُتَرَدِّد nejistý usikker ungewiss αβέβαιος incierto epävarma incertain nesiguran incerto 不確実な 불확실한 onzeker usikker niepewny incerto неопределенный osäker ที่ไม่แน่นอน belirsiz không chắc chắn 不确定的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009