definitedef‧i‧nite /ˈdefɪnət, ˈdefənət/ ●●○ S3 AWL adjective 
It’s impossible for me to give you a definite answer. We need to record sufficient data to enable definite conclusions to be reached. He’d shown definite signs of resigning himself to the situation.► see thesaurus at certain2a definite arrangement, promise etc will happen in the way that someone has said: Fix a definite date for the delivery of your computer.3[not before noun] saying something very firmly so that people understand exactly what you meandefinite about She’s not definite about retiring from the game.
WORD ORIGINdefinite
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin definitus, past participle of definire; ➔ DEFINEEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Both Sally and John had definite ideas about how the new kitchen should look.
- Dorosin said she doesn't have any definite plans for the future.
- I've got a good chance of getting the job, but it's not definite yet.
- I don't know what time she's coming. She won't give me a definite answer.
- Jacinta's report card showed a definite improvement in math.
- Mark's studies take a definite back seat to football.
- The city has finally given a definite date to replace the street light.
- We have some statistics, but we really need something more definite before we can make any firm decisions.
- Indeed, Maxwell showed that when the fields propagate as electromagnetic waves they actually carry definite amounts of energy with them.
- No other historical transformation has quite the same clear-cut and definite character.
- Six years had, after all, seen definite innovations in performance and safety.
- Sometimes this means taking a very definite stand on certain issues, but it has to be done for both your sakes.
- The green on the twelfth has two very definite tiers and the pin was on the upper one.
- They discovered a definite debt-death link: a relationship between interest paid percapita and decrease in life expectancy.
- We have seen that a gas or vapour does not have a definite volume or shape.
THESAURUS
if something is certain, you are completely sure that it will happen or is true: · Success seems certain.· It is almost certain that there will be a change of government.· Nobody knows exactly who built the manor, but it is certain that an architect called John Sturges supplied the drawings.
if something is definite, it is certain because someone has officially stated that it will happen, is true etc: · I hope you can give me a definite answer soon.· The wedding will be next summer but a definite date has not been arranged yet.· I’ve got a good chance of getting the job, but it’s not definite yet.
if something, especially something bad, is inevitable, it is certain to happen and you cannot do anything to prevent it: · War now seems inevitable.· It was inevitable that he would find out her secret sooner or later.· Facial wrinkles are the inevitable result of aging.
if something is bound to happen, it is very likely to happen, especially because that is what usually happens in that kind of situation. Be bound to is less formal than certain and is very common in everyday spoken English: · The kids are bound to be hungry when they get home – they always are.· My car broke down today. It was bound to happen sooner or later.
formal to be certain to get something good, or to be successful: · After the success of its recent single, the band is now assured of a contract with a major record company.· He is is virtually assured of becoming the next prime minister.· Our clients are assured of comfortable accommodation and the attention of our trained staff.
if something is a foregone conclusion, its result is certain even though it has not happened yet: · They were winning by such a large margin that victory seemed to be a foregone conclusion.· Party members believe it is a foregone conclusion that he will resign.
Longman Language Activatorcertain or definite · Computer prices will continue to fall - that's certain.it is certain (that) · Nobody knows exactly who built the manor, but it is certain that an architect called John Sturges supplied the drawings. almost certain · As the results came in, it was now almost certain that Ken Livingstone would be the new Mayor of London.certain death/failure/disaster etc · Ignoring all warnings, the general led his men to certain death.
if something is definite , it is certain because someone has officially stated that it will happen, is true etc: · I've got a good chance of getting the job, but it's not definite yet.· We have some statistics, but we really need something more definite before we can make any firm decisions.definite answer: · I don't know what time she's coming. She won't give me a definite answer.
: conclusive proof/evidence/argument etc proof etc that is certainly true and cannot be doubted: · We still have no conclusive proof that Walters was at the scene of the crime.· They have been able to collect some data, but as yet nothing really conclusive.
very easy to notice or understand something that is obvious is very easy to notice or understand: · There is an obvious connection between the two murders.· "Why is she leaving?" "Well, it's obvious, isn't it?"it is obvious that: · It's obvious that something is wrong.· It was obvious from the start that my parents disliked Nancy.it is obvious to somebody: · It should be obvious to everyone that we need to make some changes.for obvious reasons (=when the reasons are so obvious that you do not need to say what they are): · For obvious reasons, we've had to cancel tonight's performance.
if it is clear that something is true, it is easy to notice that it is true and you feel sure about it and have no doubts: it is clear that: · It was clear that Lesley was very upset by what had happened.it is clear to somebody: · It was clear to me that my father was dying.it becomes clear: · It soon became clear that there were not enough police officers to deal with the situation.· It became clear after talking to him that Andrew wasn't going to cooperate.clear evidence/example/sign etc: · There is clear evidence that certain diets reduce your chances of getting cancer.· clear signs of an economic recovery
use this to emphasize that it is easy to see that something is true: · We're obviously going to need more help.· Clearly, the situation is more complicated than we first thought.· The children were clearly upset.· Obviously, this guy's a complete fraud.· The language of the article clearly reveals the author's bias.
to know that something must be true because you can see signs that show this: can tell (that): · I can tell that Mark isn't happy here.· Even though it was dark, she could tell it was him.can tell if: · I can't tell if this is dirty or not. Can you?can tell by: · I could tell by the way she walked that her knee was still bothering her.
if it is easy to see that something is true, it is very easy for anyone to notice or understand that fact: it is easy to see (that): · It's easy to see that he isn't well.· It was easy to see that Minna was embarrassed by her father's behaviour.it is easy to see how/why/what: · It's easy to see why this place is so popular.
a noticeable difference, change, improvement etc is easy to notice: noticeable change: · The most noticeable change was in my younger brother, who had grown quite a bit and was now a third-grader.noticeable improvement: · There has been a noticeable improvement in Jeremy's behaviour lately.barely/hardly/scarcely noticeable (=almost not noticeable): · Stop worrying about your pimples; they're barely noticeable.it is noticeable that: · It was quite noticeable that everyone had been invited except for Gail.
formal a perceptible difference, change, improvement etc can be noticed even though it is small: · The influence of Sartre is perceptible in Hogan's novel.perceptible change: · According to Reynolds, there has been a slight but perceptible change in public attitude lately.barely/scarcely/hardly perceptible (=almost not perceptible): · His lips curved in a barely perceptible smile.· When he asked if she wanted something to eat, she gave a barely perceptible nod.
a distinct or definite possibility, feeling, quality etc is noticeable and cannot be ignored: distinct/definite possibility: · A civil war is a distinct possibility.· Food shortages are so severe that mass starvation is a definite possibility.distinct advantage: · Trigg's height should give him a distinct advantage in his match against Robinson.distinct impression: · I had the distinct impression that Rachel was displeased.
obvious - used formally or in literature: · Even at the age of eight his musical talent was apparent.for no apparent reason (=without a clear reason): · Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, he turned his back and walked away.it is evident (from something) that: · From the look on Jill's face, it was evident that the news came as a complete shock.it became apparent/evident that: · It became evident that Lena wasn't going to be able to handle the project on her own.· After a few months, it became apparent that Vicky did not have a genuine interest in her job.
something or someone that is conspicuous is very easy to notice, because they are different from everything or everyone else around them: · Cuzco's few tourists are conspicuous as they explore the old cobbled streets.· Downtown business owners say they want the city's homeless shelter moved to a less conspicuous location.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Some knowledge of Spanish is a definite plus in this job.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
(=one that you can clearly notice)· Electronic trading has a number of distinct advantages.
(=that says yes or no definitely)· Can you give me a definite answer tomorrow?
Some knowledge of Spanish is a definite plus in this job.· Then when I told him about the baby he was more definite.· I often wish people would be more definite. 2.· The stronger, more definite and consistent it is, the more important it will be as a symptom of the case.· He could not be any more definite than that.· No marriage had begun with a more definite understanding of what each required of the other.· If you want a more definite pattern or motif the easiest method to achieve this is to use a stencil.· Something more definite can, fortunately, be said about Molla Fenari's first period of office as kadi of Bursa.
· It was quite definite from Lady McClintock's scan.· For the moment we have to rely on intermittent subcutaneous injections which impose quite definite restrictions.· She had been quite definite on this subject.
· I've got very strange ideals, and one of the things I've got a very definite mind on is abortion.· The selection of short-term or long-term financing requires the consideration of a very definite risk-return tradeoff.· There are very few house rules but the ban on smoking is very definite.· The green on the twelfth has two very definite tiers and the pin was on the upper one.· They have a very definite shelf life.· Each of these projects carries with it a very definite academic agenda.· Many found it difficult to give accurate figures as the livestock year dictated two very definite peak work periods.· If discounts are offered but not taken, accounts payable have a very definite cost.
NOUN· Philosophers need to stop procrastinating and staring at their navels and answer questions like the one above with a definite answer.· Because there are few definite answers in law, it engages one to be philosophical-or spiritual, you might say.· The accompanying text pages explore these questions and give definite answers as a basis for discussion.· I would like to give a definite answer.· For the bluesy sound that you are after, an old Marshall 50 with a 4x12 would be the definite answer.· All are familiar with their own experiences of being asleep, and feel they can give definite answers.· There can be no definite answer to this problem at the moment.· None of those questions has a definite answer.
· It's a language all its own, with rules and a grammar, but it has no definite article.· The definite article was inclined to appear in strange places, and to disappear from other places where it should have been.· The newspaper names have a definite article because there is only one.· The man had become a myth and acquired the definite article.· Demonstratives and the definite article are terms whose mobilisation and use would be strongly linked to this kind of deixis.· They are all blond and call themselves Gang, without the definite article, which has an icily Germanic ring.· A second piece of evidence is provided by certain uses of the definite article.· For them this front and these guns are the only possible ones indicated by the definite articles.
· Because of the weakness of data it is difficult to come to definite conclusions.· As with the origins of many other events no definite conclusions can be drawn.· She came to some definite conclusions about the importance of this post and the requirements of a Depute Head Teacher.· At present it is not possible to draw any definite conclusions about the binding mode of CytR.· Caution is therefore necessary in drawing definite conclusions from either rRNA or protein-tree analyses.· Coincidences with Ralph the Talespinner's story to be noted, but too many alternative possibilities for definite conclusions.
· The drama school audition By now you will have made a definite decision to become an actor - nomatterwhat the problems or obstacles.· He said that he thought the proposal could well be what they wanted and promised a definite decision within two days.· No definite decision could be reached.· Marubeni was to make a definite decision on whether it would carry the Axil workstation products depending on reaction at the show.· It was not until the bomb was tested that a definite decision could be reached on its use.
· Statistics over five or ten years will provide definite evidence of increasing, stagnant or declining percapita incomes.· They receive these doctrines by tradition, without any definite evidence.· Attempts to trace the background even of Tyler have petered out through lack of definite evidence.· Although Moorhens are sometimes seen in unusual localities along the coast, definite evidence of migration in Sussex is very scant.
· Beto has very definite ideas on this.· I have a definite idea of what I am trying to do and I want to stay with it.· He had very definite ideas about what a son of his should be like.· They have definite ideas of what they want to see on the page.· Then you have time to fix on a definite idea of how you want the final mix to sound.· Roy does not have definite ideas on the future.· She has definite ideas on how she thinks things should be organised, and sometimes she is right.· But he was very definite ideas about what he is doing.
· So make definite plans to deal with the fears that you can control.· By that time Ed had some fairly definite plans for his immediate future.
· Sports: A definite plus for this resort.
· If not a thoroughly convincing victory it further establishes Mason in the heavyweight division and his career will now take definite shape.· Everything important to the farm was under the care of a beneficent power, never conceived of as having a definite shape.· No definite shape, rather dull colour.· Charles Worthington, who transformed Aimee's looks, stresses the importance of giving fine hair a definite shape and style.· He gives a definite shape to a side in that he gets his hands on the ball and keeps moving forward.· His own brand of performing was taking on a very definite shape.· The formal support came from the Signet Office, which had been given definite shape in the fifteenth century.
· But he'd shown definite signs of resigning himself to the situation - until her arrival downstairs after breakfast.· An independent company, that is, with its two main engines of growth showing definite signs of maturity.· There was no doubt now: there were definite signs of life.· If so, he never gave any definite sign of it.· Such cells look relatively unspecialised but they do show definite signs of differentiation.
WORD FAMILYadjectivedefinite ≠ indefiniteadverbdefinitely ≠ indefinitely
1clearly known, seen, or stated SYN clear OPP indefinite: It’s impossible for me to give you a definite answer. We need to record sufficient data to enable definite conclusions to be reached. He’d shown definite signs of resigning himself to the situation.► see thesaurus at certain2a definite arrangement, promise etc will happen in the way that someone has said: Fix a definite date for the delivery of your computer.3[not before noun] saying something very firmly so that people understand exactly what you meandefinite about She’s not definite about retiring from the game.