uncertainun‧cer‧tain /ʌnˈsɜːtn $ -ɜːr-/ ●●○ adjective 
He was uncertain how much further he could walk.uncertain about/of I was uncertain about what to do next.2not clear, definite, or decided SYN unclearit is uncertain whether/how/what etc It is uncertain how likely this is to occur. My whole future now seemed uncertain.3in no uncertain terms if you tell someone something in no uncertain terms, you tell them very clearly without trying to be polite: I told Colin in no uncertain terms what I thought of him.4if someone walks in an uncertain way, they seem as though they might fall SYN unsteady: She took a few uncertain steps forward.—uncertainly adverb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A spokesman said the governor's travel plans were still uncertain.
- She took a few uncertain steps forward.
- The company faces a highly uncertain future.
- The economic outlook is so uncertain that I would think carefully before investing any money.
- The long-term benefits of the treatment are extremely uncertain.
- The situation on the island is still very uncertain and the army is on full alert.
- They were worried about their son's uncertain future.
- Doctors are uncertain of what self-government would mean in detail.
- Even now, city staff appears uncertain what can be built on the property.
- Even where links were still in place, their future remained uncertain.
- If you hesitate the secretary will sense that you are uncertain and wonder whether to put you through or not.
- Indeed, we shall stress the importance of work organization in change agendas geared towards securing competitive advantage in uncertain market environments.
- More typical is the partial cure where the doctors could say that the treatment was worthwhile but the future uncertain.
- She would write, when she was away from here, tell him in no uncertain terms exactly what she thought of him.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that you cannot be certain about
something that is uncertain , has not been definitely shown or decided: · The cause of the accident is uncertain.· Exactly how and when these plant species came to the Great Plains is not certain.it is uncertain whether/if: · It is still uncertain whether the conference will actually take place.it is uncertain how/why/when/that: · It's uncertain when the trial will begin.· It is not at all certain that Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover America.
a situation that is unclear , is one that people do not know enough or understand enough to be sure about it: · The causes of the dispute are not entirely clear.· At this hour, the fate of the passengers and crew is still unclear.it is unclear how/why/whether etc: · It isn't clear how the fire started.· It's not yet clear whether the disease is caused by a virus.· It was unclear when the two sides would meet again to discuss the budget.it is not clear that: · It's not clear that the problems with the new computer system have been worked out.
informal use this about something that is uncertain because a decision has not yet been made: · I might be going on a training course next week, but it's still up in the air.· They still haven't said if I've got the job -- it's all up in the air at the moment.
use this to say that people do not feel certain about what has happened or will happen, and are worried about it - used especially in newspapers and public speeches: · The Principal said there was uncertainty about the candidate's qualifications.· There is some uncertainty over where the refugees are going to be housed.
when a situation is uncertain, and something bad may happen · The situation on the island is still very uncertain and the army is on full alert.· The long-term benefits of the treatment are extremely uncertain.· The economic outlook is so uncertain that I would think carefully before investing any money.highly uncertain (=very uncertain) · The company faces a highly uncertain future.
to be uncertain and likely to be bad: · The result of the President's re-election campaign remains doubtful.· With more and more cuts in government spending, the program's future now seems doubtful.it is doubtful if/whether: · It is doubtful if she will survive the operation.· It is extremely doubtful whether the aid is actually reaching the people who need it most.it is doubtful that: · It is doubtful that the governor's proposed tax increase will be popular with voters.
if someone or something's future or success is in doubt , it seems very uncertain and they may not be able to continue or to succeed: · After yet another injury, his football career is in doubt.· The building's future remained in doubt until the government agreed to restore it.
spoken you say it's touch and go when a situation seems extremely uncertain and you are worried that something may not happen in the way you want: · It was touch and go for a few hours, but we were able to get everything out of the basement before it flooded.· An urgent operation was needed to save his life, and doctors said it was touch and go until the end of the procedure.it's touch and go whether: · Traffic was really heavy, and for a while it was touch and go whether they'd get to the wedding on time.
if something is in the balance or hangs in the balance , there is a risk that something bad will happen so that it will not continue: · The survival of the African elephant hangs in the balance.· His career as a politician hung in the balance.· I can't say what the outcome of the talks will be -- they're very much in the balance at the moment.
spoken informal use this to describe a plan or situation that seems uncertain and may not succeed or happen as you want: · "What's happening about your new job?" "The whole thing's rather iffy at the moment."· I was hoping to go to the beach today but it's looking iffy because of the weather.
when two different results are possible informal if you say that something such as a game or a decision could go either way , you mean that either of two results is equally possible: · Legal experts following the case believe the trial could go either way.· Spurs are a goal up but there are ten minutes to go and the match could still go either way.
a borderline case is a situation in which the decision is not certain, for example about whether someone should pass an exam, get a job etc: borderline case/decision etc: · In borderline cases we look at a student's class work to decide the final exam result.· It was a borderline decision whether to send him to prison or not.
spoken informal if you say there is a fifty-fifty chance of something happening, you mean there is an equal chance of it happening or not happening: · The weather forecast said there was a fifty-fifty chance of rain.be fifty-fifty (=there is a fifty-fifty chance): · It'll be a tough game -- I'd say our chances of winning are fifty-fifty.
spoken say this when you do not know which of two possibilities someone will choose, and you think each is equally likely: · "Have you decided where to go on holiday?" "Well, it'll be either Portugal or Turkey -- it's a toss-up."it's a toss-up between: · I don't know who'll get the job. I guess it's a toss-up between Carl and Steve.
when there are several different opinions about something: it is debatable whether · It is debatable whether these alternative medical treatments actually work.a debatable point · Whether or not the government was right to arrest the protesters is an extremely debatable point.
something that is questionable seems doubtful and is likely to be wrong or untrue: · The conclusions of the survey are questionable because the research was based on a very small sample of people.it is questionable whether: · It is questionable whether the advertisements will increase sales.
something that is open to question or open to debate seems doubtful and needs to be checked or discussed: · Many people feel that the safety of the drug is now open to question.· Just why the guerrillas decided to shoot down the unarmed plane remains open to debate.it is open to question/debate whether: · It is open to debate whether the new government is any better than the old one.
something that different people have different opinions about: · I'm not sure that bringing in computers has made our job easier. It's a moot point.· Whether or not increasing taxes will result in a fairer society remains a moot point.
to make something completely clear · I tried to make clear exactly what I meant.make it clear (that) · The teacher made it clear that she would not allow talking in class.make something clear · We want to make the rules clear from the beginning.make yourself clear (=make it clear what you mean) · Am I making myself clear?
formal to make something clearer, especially because people have not completely understood it: · I hope this statement has helped to clarify a few points.clarify your position (=make it clear what you think about something and what your intentions are): · The senator tried to clarify his position on abortion.
to explain something in the clearest possible way, especially when you think it should be unnecessary to make things so simple or to give so many details: · Do I have to spell out to you how important this is to me?· Andrews was asked to spell out exactly how pensions would be affected.· Campbell spelled out the reasons why staff reductions were necessary.
informal to state something clearly and strongly, especially something that other people may be unwilling to listen to or accept: · I'm going to lay it on the line. If you don't quit drinking, I'm going to leave you.
if you say something in no uncertain terms , you make your meaning very clear, especially when you are annoyed with someone about something: · The president of the university condemned racism on campus in no uncertain terms.· You've got to let him know, in no uncertain terms, that you will no longer tolerate his abuse.
to make someone feel unsure about something: make sb unsure/uncertain about · The news about the bomb made me uncertain about travelling to the area.make sb unsure/uncertain of · Her previous experiences made her very unsure of the wisdom of marrying again.
to make people become unsure about something they were previously fairly sure about: · I don't want to raise too many doubts, but I wonder whether he's really fit for the job.raise doubts about/over: · Her report has raised doubts about the likely success of this project.raise doubts in somebody's mind: · The new evidence raised doubts in the minds of jury members.
especially spoken use this to say that something makes you unsure about a previous belief: · They obviously know each other. It makes you wonder.it makes you wonder if/whether etc: · So many people believe in astrology, it makes you wonder if it's all true.· His behaviour after hearing my news made me wonder if he knew more than he had told me.
not sure if something is true or if something will happen · "What time does the film start?" "I think it's 8.30, but I'm not sure."not sure how/whether/when etc · I'm not sure where she lives.· I'm not sure how long it will take the bus to get there.not sure about · If you're not sure about the meaning of a word, look it up in a dictionary.not sure of · Use the 'Filesearch' function if you are not sure of the name of a file.can't be sure spoken (=when you think something is true, but you are not completely sure) · I can't be sure, but I think I saw Maggie coming out of the hospital this morning.
not sure about something. Not certain is more formal than not sure: · The man you're looking for could be Keith, but I'm not certain.not certain about: · I'm not certain about what time the buses come - I usually cycle.not certain how/why/where etc: · I'm really not certain how much fuel we've got left.
to not be at all sure if something is true or if something will happen: · "How old is she?" "Oh, I don't know - fifty, fifty-five?"not know if/whether/how etc: · I phoned her but I don't know if she got my message.· We do not know whether the lake is safe for swimming in.not know for sure especially spoken: · It could be this week but it might be much later. We don't know for sure.
Unsure and uncertain are more formal than not sure and not certain .: unsure/uncertain about: · I'm still a bit unsure about how to use this software.unsure/uncertain of: · Many workers are still unsure of their rights.unsure/uncertain who/what/whether etc: · David decided to become a teacher but was uncertain which subject to specialize in.
a feeling of not being sure whether something is true or correct: doubt about: · There are still some doubts about her suitability for the job.doubt as to: · There seems to be some doubt as to what warnings were given.
to think about something that you are not sure about, and try to guess what is true, what will happen, etc: · He says he's had no formal training but when you see how good his work is, you start to wonder.wonder if/how/whether etc: · I wonder if she'll recognize me after all these years.· He wondered whether he would be able to find the hotel again.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY My whole future now seemed uncertain. She took a few uncertain steps forward.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
My whole future now seemed uncertain. She took a few uncertain steps forward.· The company is facing an uncertain future.
(=not clear, definite, or decided)· The Bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.
(=not clear or decided)· The college's future is now uncertain.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· The coming year looks just as uncertain.· Graeme Hick and Robin Smith were both exposed again as uncertain against pace and spin respectively.· Underneath she was as uncertain as her twin.· The level of future military commitments was just as uncertain.· In all the days of his ecclesiastical career he had never been quite as uncertain as now.· Scientists characterize the humanities as uncertain, vague and irrelevant.
· People living on the proposed site say their future is now more uncertain than ever.· The position during the seventeenth century of the duchy of Savoy was much more uncertain than that of Venice.· Strategic planning, because of its greater time horizon, must rely on long term forecasts and is therefore more uncertain.· Mixed in with the sound of the washerwomen, there gradually came another, more uncertain one.· Sarah Cunningham-Burley finds Aberdeen grandfathers much more uncertain than grandmothers of what their role should be.· Economic progress would be far more uncertain and certainly far less rapid without it.
· If the nuns saw us we could not meet again, and our future was already so uncertain.· Perhaps we are, otherwise why are we so uncertain about girls?· Relativism is not an attractive proposition to anyone, least of all philosophers, because everything becomes so uncertain and transitory.· This adventure climbing - so fragile, so uncertain - can it continue to claim our allegiance?· Because superiority was so uncertain for the individual, it had to have one form that was permanent and secure.· Seasonal work is so uncertain that the pickers are forced to work whatever the conditions just to make a few extra pesos.
· In return, the Church cut a somewhat uncertain figure.· The lowest Reynolds number at which this exists is somewhat uncertain but around 104. 4.· What occurred next is somewhat uncertain.· The background of this method is somewhat uncertain.
· Just how much is due to inherited characteristics, and how much to other biological factors or early childhood experiences is still uncertain.· Arthur was impressed with Mary but still uncertain.· That, probably, was why her left hand remained bare and the date of their wedding still uncertain.· It is still uncertain how these possible burgi operated.· He was still hesitant, still uncertain.· Pupitres were adapted from these structures, although it is still uncertain who first employed them commercially for remuage.· Does it need a title? Still uncertain, he wrote.· Several years later, the future of this great church is still uncertain.
· With regard to acquittal rates in the magistrates' courts, our data are too uncertain to draw firm conclusions as they are incomplete.· However, the recent lunar eclipse and Mercury in retrograde motion signify the financial position is much too uncertain.· The situation was too fluid, the future too uncertain for any relaxation yet.· He was silent, scowling, and Hoomey was too uncertain of him to say anything.· Holly looked quizzical when she sat down again but she was too busy and too uncertain to explain.
· I certainly regarded the continuance of child benefit as very uncertain, and I still regard it as uncertain.· Another day would be gone with only the beginnings of a very uncertain transaction made.· Suddenly things must have seemed very uncertain.· I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes as the plane headed straight into very uncertain, very uncharted territory indeed.· It was very uncertain whether Henry would be able to retain the crown he had seized.· Whether it can persuade the Government to dig in its heels over this issue looks very uncertain.· Or, more simply, there is a belief that the status of the Devil is very uncertain in the New Testament.· This one weighs about six pounds and still seems very uncertain of its role in the wild.
NOUN· It is a happy but open ending, as the young couple, like most others, face an uncertain future.· But Wu said Amelio must still convince customers they should buy Macs, a product that may have an uncertain future.· They also warn that some leading hospitals may face an uncertain future if they lose patients to outside bidders.· He said the uncertain future of the council already has caused a third of the staff to move on to other jobs.· Not only is he facing an uncertain future, he is being forced to behave in an uncharacteristic fashion every day.· With the conclusion of the conference, Yardley sailed back to the United States and to an uncertain future.· As we consider the dream of Jacob we find a man who stood alone and facing an uncertain future.· Lefors, founded in 1900 as the Gray County seat, long has faced an uncertain future.
· The predatory gleam in his eyes told her in no uncertain manner that he wanted her too.· She had been dismissed, and in no uncertain manner.· Its first ascent in 1882 saw the start of the escalation of climbing standards in no uncertain manner.· Dignam's career blossomed in no uncertain manner.
· Cumulative Density Function By definition, an uncertain quantity is one whose value can lie anywhere along a specified range.
· She would write, when she was away from here, tell him in no uncertain terms exactly what she thought of him.· This means that we are going to lock you up, in no uncertain terms.· Those coming into leadership are told in no uncertain terms what their task is to be.· That night they told her, in no uncertain terms, to go for it.· If he had chosen to, Thomas might have told her in no uncertain terms what was wrong.· But DuPonceau does venture to contradict, and in no uncertain terms.· She wanted nothing at all from her father and she was about to tell Alain Lemarchand so in no uncertain terms.· In fact, he had told her in no uncertain terms to go forth and multiply.
· It's up to him to show some grit in an uncertain world.· In an uncertain world, lenders normally prefer to lend short-term rather than long-term because of the greater liquidity of short-term debt.· The important result is that in an uncertain world companies like to maintain a stable payout ratio over the long run.· There is no simple answer in an uncertain world where monitoring and enforcement also use up society's scarce resources.· How can agents improve their forecasts of inflation in an uncertain world?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- But DuPonceau does venture to contradict, and in no uncertain terms.
- He had found them scruffy, and had said so in no uncertain terms.
- She wanted nothing at all from her father and she was about to tell Alain Lemarchand so in no uncertain terms.
- That night they told her, in no uncertain terms, to go for it.
- This means that we are going to lock you up, in no uncertain terms.
- Those coming into leadership are told in no uncertain terms what their task is to be.
- Well, there was nothing for it, I had to lay down the law in no uncertain terms.
- What is more, she said so - in no uncertain terms.
WORD FAMILYnouncertainty ≠ uncertaintyadjectivecertain ≠ uncertainadverbcertainly ≠ uncertainly
1[not before noun] feeling doubt about something SYN unsureuncertain whether/how/what etc He was uncertain how much further he could walk.uncertain about/of I was uncertain about what to do next.2not clear, definite, or decided SYN unclearit is uncertain whether/how/what etc It is uncertain how likely this is to occur. My whole future now seemed uncertain.3in no uncertain terms if you tell someone something in no uncertain terms, you tell them very clearly without trying to be polite: I told Colin in no uncertain terms what I thought of him.4if someone walks in an uncertain way, they seem as though they might fall SYN unsteady: She took a few uncertain steps forward.—uncertainly adverb