Certainty & Likelihood: English Vocabulary List

the feeling of complete certainty

"He spoke with such certitude that everyone believed him."

"He spoke with complete certitude about the future outcome of the important event."

not firmly established or decided, with the possibility of changes in the future

"We made a tentative plan."

"The two companies reached a tentative agreement after weeks of negotiation but the final contract still needs to be approved by the board of directors."

in a way that is certain and beyond any doubt

"The room was decidedly too small."

"The room was decidedly too small for fifty people so we had to find a larger venue for the conference."

used to suggest that something is assumed to be true, often with a hint of doubt

"Supposedly he is the best doctor."

"Supposedly he is the best doctor in the city but I have heard some negative reviews from his former patients."

used to say that the something is believed to be true based on available information or evidence

"Presumably he will arrive later today."

"Presumably he will arrive later today because his flight was delayed due to bad weather in Chicago."

not producing a clear result or decision

"The evidence is inconclusive."

"The results of the experiment were inconclusive so the scientists had to repeat the study with a larger sample size to obtain more reliable and valid data."

being solely based on imagination or theory rather that reality

"The cost is notional."

"The architect presented a notional design for the building, which was purely conceptual and not yet based on engineering plans."

an idea or conclusion formed on the basis of limited or uncertain evidence

"It was a surmise."

"Based on the scattered clues, the detective's initial surmise was that the thief had an inside accomplice."

a guess that is made according to one's experience or knowledge thus is more likely to be true

"He made an educated guess."

"The scientist made an educated guess about the experiment's outcome based on previous research results."

an idea that is based on guesswork and not facts

"The theory is pure conjecture."

"His entire theory was based on pure conjecture without any solid evidence to support it."

to estimate something by calculating and guessing

"Can you guesstimate the final cost?"

"Without having the exact measurements the contractor had to guesstimate the total amount of materials needed for the construction project."

to inspect something closely to ensure accuracy, quality, or its overall condition

"Check over your work carefully."

"Please check over your essay for any spelling mistakes before you submit it to the teacher."

to be certain that something is good or useful

"I swear by this book."

"Many athletes swear by this particular training regimen for achieving peak physical performance and endurance."

according to opinions or guesses instead of facts or evidence

"The investment is speculative."

"The stock market is highly speculative and investors can lose all of their money if they make bad decisions without careful research."

to predict or anticipate an event or someone's reaction

"Don't second-guess him."

"It is often difficult to second-guess the outcome of a complex political negotiation until all parties have agreed."

used to say that something is true according to what people say, although it is uncertain

"He is reputedly very wealthy."

"He is reputedly very wealthy but no one actually knows how much money he has in the bank."

acting or talking with hesitation due to uncertainty or lack of confidence

"His speech was halting."

"The nervous student gave a halting presentation because he kept forgetting his lines and he had to pause frequently to look at his notes on the podium."

based on the likelihood of an event or outcome occurring

"The model is probabilistic."

"The model is probabilistic and predicts outcomes based on likelihood rather than certainty."

to allow or wait for a situation to become calmer or more stable after a significant change or serious dispute

"Wait for dust to settle."

"After the dramatic announcement, everyone agreed to let the dust settle before discussing the implications further."

appearing contradictory or conflicting but potentially true

"The statement is paradoxical."

"The statement is paradoxical because it seems to contradict itself but may still be true."

to check the accuracy or validity of something by using alternative sources or methods

"Always cross-check your sources twice."

"The accountant will cross-check the numbers from both reports to make sure they match perfectly."

without a doubt

"He gave a categorical denial."

"The president issued a categorical denial of the allegations and he stated clearly that he had never met with the foreign officials who were mentioned in the report."

in a way that is absolutely certain and cannot be questioned

"His skill is beyond doubt."

"The evidence presented in court proved his guilt beyond doubt to every single member of the jury."

‌used to offer advice or instructions to someone who is incapable of making decisions

"If in doubt, ask for help."

"If in doubt about how to operate the machinery, always consult the safety manual before proceeding."

an attempt made without having any high hopes of achieving success

"Very long shot."

"Winning the lottery is a very long shot but many people still try every week."

a belief or opinion that is very strong

"She has strong conviction."

"His strong conviction about justice motivated him to fight for the oppressed."

remaining strong and effective even when facing challenges or difficulties

"The system is robust."

"The system is robust and can handle many users without crashing or slowing down."

not firmly established or decided, with the possibility of changes in the future

"We made tentative plans."

"We made tentative plans to meet on Friday but we will confirm the time later."

according to facts instead of opinions

"We need concrete evidence."

"We need concrete evidence to prove that he committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt."

something that is assumed to be true or already decided upon before any evidence or arguments are presented

"The election result seemed a foregone conclusion."

"The victory was a foregone conclusion long before the match even started yesterday."

something that will surely happen

"This is a cinch."

"With his extensive experience, winning the championship was considered a cinch for the team."