certainly

[ sur-tn-lee ]

adverb

1. with certainty; without doubt; assuredly:

   I'll certainly be there.

2. yes, of course:

   Certainly, take the keys.

3. to be sure; surely:

   He certainly is successful.

certainly

/ ˈsɜːtənlɪ /

adverb

1. with certainty; without doubt

   he certainly rides very well

sentence substitute

1. by all means; definitely: used in answer to questions

Word History and Origins

Origin of certainly¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; certain + -ly

Example Sentences

For instance, I’m not normally a fancy-steakhouse person, and I certainly don’t dine like a modern-day oil baron.

From Washington Post

Several of this blog’s sources have criticized the paper’s handling of these situations, and certainly there have been screw-ups.

From Washington Post

All of which is why helmet makers will almost certainly continue to be extremely cautious—to the point of evasion—about how they talk about safety.

From Outside Online

Our strategy is certainly to leverage the power of the portfolio.

From Digiday

Even the Facebook remarketing tag that millions of advertisers and publishers have come to depend on will most certainly change drastically.

From Digiday

As a means of preventing tooth decay in those cities that do fluoridate, the practice certainly looks like a success.

From The Daily Beast

Certainly, she seems to command near-total devotion among her clients.

From The Daily Beast

The well, ghost or no ghost, is certainly a piece of history with a bold presence.

From The Daily Beast

They will do it,” Revels declared, “as certainly as the sun shines in the heavens.

From The Daily Beast

Certainly paid paternity leave is part of it (and in the U.S., we need paid maternity and paternity leave).

From The Daily Beast

There was a rumor that Alessandro and his father had both died; but no one knew anything certainly.

From Project Gutenberg

I doubt if the modern community can afford to continue it; it certainly cannot afford to extend it very widely.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet it certainly would render the country more agreeable to strangers, whether sojourners or mere travelers.

From Project Gutenberg

The Austrian soldiers, regarded as mere fighting machines, are certainly well got up.

From Project Gutenberg

There was still visible on it the stain where he had wiped his hand, and this stain seemed certainly blood.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absolutely
• assuredly
• exactly
• surely