uncertain
uncertain — adjective
1. feeling doubt or hesitation about what to do, believe, or choose, especially whe
feeling doubt or hesitation about what to do, believe, or choose, especially when the right decision is not yet clear to you.
Eri was uncertain whether to take the job in Taipei or stay home.
be uncertain whether + to-infinitive
The committee remained uncertain about how to fund the new library in the district.
remain uncertain about + noun phrase
Christopher felt uncertain of his answer when the teacher asked him to explain the calculation.
Are you still uncertain about which graduate program to apply for next year?
文法句型
be uncertain about + noun/gerund
be uncertain whether + to-infinitive
feel uncertain of + noun
remain uncertain about + wh-clause
用法筆記
Predicative only — this sense of uncertain never appears directly before a noun. Use “a confused decision” or “a doubtful look” instead of “an uncertain decision” when describing the decision itself.
常見錯誤
2. not yet decided, confirmed, or clearly known — the details, outcome, or facts of
not yet decided, confirmed, or clearly known — the details, outcome, or facts of a situation are still open or not firmly established.
The cause of the fire remains uncertain even after months of investigation by experts.
remain uncertain (predicative, subject = fact)
It is still uncertain whether the music festival will go ahead despite the storm damage.
it is uncertain whether + clause
The delivery date for the furniture is uncertain because of delays at the factory.
The long-term effects of the new treatment remain uncertain at this early stage.
- unclear
focuses on lack of clarity; more neutral tone
- vague
suggests the information itself is imprecise or poorly defined
- indefinite
implies no fixed limits or deadlines have been set
- unresolved
suggests an issue that remains open and needs to be settled
文法句型
something is uncertain
it is uncertain whether / if / when…
remain uncertain
uncertain + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (NOT SURE), this sense works both predicatively and attributively. When used before a noun, it describes something whose outcome or nature is unknown: “uncertain future,” “uncertain outcome.” Frequently used in academic and journalistic writing with dummy-it structures.
3. likely to shift or change from one condition to another, especially in ways that
likely to shift or change from one condition to another, especially in ways that are hard to predict or depend on.
The weather in this mountain area is uncertain — storms can arrive without any warning.
uncertain weather (attributive describing unpredictable nature)
Otis's job situation has been uncertain ever since the company announced the layoffs last month.
situation / future + be uncertain (predicative)
Living with an uncertain income made it hard for Amira to budget for the year.
The political climate in the region grew increasingly uncertain after the disputed election results.
- unpredictable
stronger emphasis on not being able to foresee what comes next
- unstable
suggests a tendency to change in a negative, disruptive way
- variable
more neutral and technical; used for measurable changes like temperature or speed
- volatile
stronger and more dramatic; implies sudden, extreme shifts
文法句型
uncertain + noun (attributive)
become / grow uncertain
something is uncertain (predicative, describing changeable nature)
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with “unstable” but is broader — it covers any kind of unpredictable change (weather, prices, moods, political conditions), not just structural instability. When used predicatively, the subject is typically a condition or situation rather than a person.