Certainty and Doubt: English Vocabulary List

to make sure that something will happen

"Seat belts ensure passenger safety always."

"Please check the door twice to ensure that it is locked before you leave the house for your vacation."

to predict future events, based on analysis of present data and conditions

"The report forecasts economic growth."

"The meteorologist used satellite images to forecast the path of the hurricane approaching the coast very quickly."

to pause before saying or doing something because of uncertainty or nervousness

"Do not hesitate to ask questions."

"Do not hesitate to call me if you need any help with the project because I am here to support you."

to bring back something from the memory

"I cannot recall his name."

"The witness could not recall the exact details of the accident because it happened very quickly."

having a strong belief in something

"I am convinced he is right."

"I am convinced that he is telling the truth because his story has remained consistent for months."

anticipated or predicted to happen based on previous knowledge or assumptions

"The result was expected."

"The expected delivery date for the package is tomorrow but it might arrive later than that unfortunately."

unable to be prevented

"Change is inevitable."

"Change is inevitable and we must learn to adapt to new situations instead of resisting them because fighting the inevitable only causes more stress and unhappiness."

having a high possibility of happening or being true based on available evidence or circumstances

"His success is probable."

"It is probable that the company will announce layoffs next month given their poor financial performance this quarter."

not definitively known or decided

"The future is uncertain."

"The future of the small business is uncertain due to the rising costs of supplies and rent every month."

not exactly known or expressed, often leading to confusion or ambiguity

"The instructions are unclear."

"The instructions are unclear so please ask the teacher to explain them again to the class."

to make a person believe something untrue

"Do not deceive your friends."

"He tried to deceive his manager by hiding the real sales figures on purpose."

in a way or by some method that is not known or certain

"Somehow we got lost."

"Somehow we got lost even though we had a map and a GPS device in the car with us."

used usually in a response to show that something may not be true

"That is not necessarily true."

"Just because it is expensive does not necessarily mean that it is good quality at all."

to fail to keep or fulfill a commitment or assurance made to someone

"He never goes back on a promise."

"Politicians often go back on their promises after they get elected to office."

in a way that is not possible to be changed

"The date is in stone."

"Once the contract is signed, the terms and conditions will be set in stone."

to dispose of something by giving or selling it to someone else though persuasion or deception

"He palms off fake goods as real."

"The dishonest salesman tried to palm off a fake designer watch as a genuine luxury brand product."

made or consisting of plastic, a substance produced in a chemical process

"The cup is plastic."

"The plastic bag was not strong enough to hold all of the heavy groceries so it ripped open in the parking lot."

to fail to keep a promise or commitment that was previously made

"He went back on his word."

"She promised to help me move, but she went back on her word at the last minute."

to make someone feel confident or certain about someone or something

"She assures him of her support."

"The doctor tried to assure the worried patient that the surgery was completely safe and would not cause any permanent damage."

to express confidence or certainty in something happening or being the case

"I bet he is late."

"I bet you will find the solution to this difficult puzzle very quickly."

to make sure that something will occur

"The store guarantees customer satisfaction fully."

"The store cannot guarantee that the product will be in stock next week because they are selling very quickly."

used to talk about what one expects or likes to happen

"You ought to eat well."

"You ought to apologize for your rude behavior because you really hurt her feelings with your words."

used to indicate a degree of expectation regarding something that is likely to happen

"He should be here soon."

"Given the current traffic conditions, the delivery driver should arrive at our location within the next hour."

to think that something is probably true, especially something bad, without having proof

"I suspect he is lying."

"The detective began to suspect that the witness was withholding crucial information about the incident."

used to express an opinion about which one is not certain

"I would go."

"She would likely accept the offer if it were presented to her in a more formal manner."

likely to happen or sure to experience something

"He is bound to fail."

"With his current attitude, he is bound to face significant challenges in his career."

expected or certain to happen

"It is sure to win."

"I am sure that we took the correct exit because I recognized the gas station on the corner."

done without carefully considering what might happen

"That was a rash decision."

"Making such a rash investment without proper research could lead to significant financial losses."

(of a person) having no doubt about something

"I am positive."

"Despite the challenges ahead, she remained positive about their chances of achieving success."

(of a person) showing a lack of confidence and having doubts about something

"He is uncertain."

"The student felt uncertain about the exam questions, hesitating before attempting to answer them."

used to say that something is likely to happen or is true

"No doubt he is guilty."

"No doubt he is guilty of the crime because all of the evidence points directly to him."

the state of being sure about something, usually when there is proof

"There is no certainty in life."

"He spoke with absolute certainty about the outcome but later events proved that his confident prediction was completely wrong."

the belief that one can trust or count on someone or something

"She has great confidence."

"Confidence helped him speak in front of the class."

a state of disorder in which people panic and do not know what to do

"There was confusion."

"The unexpected announcement caused widespread confusion among the employees, who did not understand the new policy."

the likelihood or chance of an event occurring or being true

"What is the probability?"

"The probability of rain tomorrow is quite high, so we should postpone our outdoor picnic."

a secret plan, particularly one that is made to deceive other people

"A secret scheme."

"The criminals devised a cunning scheme to rob the bank without being caught."

used to strongly affirm or agree with a statement

"You bet I will come."

"You bet I will be there to support you, no matter what happens."

to closely examine to see if someone is suitable or something is true

"Let's check out."

"We need to check out the new restaurant downtown to see if it's worth the hype."

the likelihood or probability of something actually taking place

"The odds are high."

"The odds of winning are small."

not seeming real, natural, or genuine

"His smile was plastic."

"The actor's performance felt rather plastic, lacking any genuine emotional depth."

to have or express uncertainty about something

"The lawyer will question the witness."

"The reporter began to question the politician's motives after discovering inconsistencies in his previous statements."