uncertain
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uncertain
- /ʌnˈsɜːtən/ UK
- /ʌnˈsɜɹ.tən/ US
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)tən
Where it comes from
From Middle English uncerteyn. By surface analysis, un- + certain.
adjective more uncertain · uncertainer · most uncertain · uncertainest
-
Not certain; unsure.
Conſider man without the protection and conduct of a ſuperior Being, and he is ſecure of nothing that he enjoys in this world, and uncertain of every thing that he hopes for.
Similar: unascertained, shaky
- Not known for certain; questionable. Tomorrow's weather is uncertain.
-
Not yet determined; undecided.
Similar: unascertained
- Variable and subject to change.
- Fitful or unsteady. Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp o
- Unpredictable or capricious. O, woman! in our hours of ease, / Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, / And variable as the shade / By the light quivering aspen made; […]
Opposite: certain
noun
-
Something uncertain; everything uncertain.
Near-synonyms: uncertainty (countable sense), uncertainties
Similar: uncertainty, uncertainties
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: incertain, unsure, iffy, doubtful, dubious, ambiguous, unsafe, ambivalent, hesitant, chancy, insecure, undependable, unreliable, indefinite, unsettled, unsealed
adjective
Opposite: certain
Translations
Every language
adj not known for certain; questionable
| Español | incierto, poco certero |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | अनिश्चित aniścit |
| Português | incerto |
| Français | incertain |
| Deutsch | ungewiss, unsicher |
| Ελληνικά | αβέβαιος avévaios |
| Română | nesigur, incert |
| Русский | неопределённый neopredeljónnyj, нея́сный nejásnyj, неуве́ренный neuvérennyj |
adj not yet determined; undecided
| Español | incierto |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | अनिश्चित aniścit |
| Português | incerto, indeterminado |
| Français | incertain |
| Deutsch | unbestimmt |
| Română | nedecis, indecis |
| Русский | неопределённый neopredeljónnyj |
adj variable and subject to change
| Español | incierto |
|---|---|
| Português | incerto |
| Français | incertain |
| Deutsch | unbeständig, unsicher |
| Română | instabil, inconstant, nestatornic, nestabil |
adj fitful or unsteady
| Deutsch | unbeständig |
|---|---|
| Română | instabil, neregulat, variabil |
| Русский | неусто́йчивый neustójčivyj, нестаби́льный nestabílʹnyj, изме́нчивый izménčivyj, непостоя́нный nepostojánnyj |
adj unpredictable or capricious
| हिन्दी | अनिश्चित aniścit |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | unbeständig |
| Română | imprevizibil |
| Русский | непредсказу́емый nepredskazújemyj |
Talk about this word "uncertain." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/uncertain. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. uncertain. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/uncertain "uncertain." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/uncertain.Cite this
@misc{uncertain_2026,
title = {uncertain},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/uncertain},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
