certainly
adverb /ˈsɜːtnli/
/ˈsɜːrtnli/
- without doubt synonym definitely
- Without treatment, she will almost certainly die.
- Certainly, the early years are crucial to a child's development.
- I'm certainly never going there again.
- I certainly hope we can do this again.
- She was certainly attractive but you couldn’t call her beautiful.
- It is certainly true that individual earthquakes are difficult to predict with any accuracy.
- This will certainly make them think again.
Which Word? surely / certainlysurely / certainly- You use surely, especially in British English, to show that you are almost certain about what you are saying and you want other people to agree with you: Surely this can’t be right?Surely in negative sentences shows that something surprises you and you do not want to believe it: You’re surely not thinking of going, are you?
- Certainly usually means ‘without doubt’ or ‘definitely’, and is used to show that you strongly believe something or to emphasize that something is really true: I’ll certainly remember this trip! In informal North American English this would be: I’ll sure remember this trip!
- Compare: The meal was certainly too expensive (= there is no doubt about it) and The meal was surely too expensive? (= that is my opinion. Don’t you agree?).
- In formal language only, surely can be used to mean ‘without doubt’: This will surely end in disaster.
Language Bank neverthelessneverthelessConceding a point and making a counterargument- While the film is undoubtedly too long, it is nevertheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
- It can be argued that the movie is too long. It is nonetheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
- The film is undoubtedly too long. Still, it is an intriguing piece of cinema.
- Of course, huge chunks of the book have been sacrificed in order to make a two-hour movie, but it is nevertheless a successful piece of storytelling.
- Critics are wrong to argue that the film’s plot is too complicated. Certainly there are a couple of major twists, but audiences will have no difficulty following them.
- It is true that you cannot make a good movie without a good script, but it is equally true that a talented director can make a good script into an excellent film.
- It remains to be seen whether these two movies herald a new era of westerns, but there is no doubt that they represent welcome additions to the genre.
- (used in answer to questions) of course
- ‘May I see your passport, Mr Scott?’ ‘Certainly.’
- ‘Do you think all this money will change your life?’ ‘Certainly not.’