a certain
idiom
1
—used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe
She has a certain elegance about her.
The house has a certain charm.
2
formal
—used with the name of a person one does not know
In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.
Examples of a certain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Differences in Growth Habits A determinate tomato plant, often called a bush tomato, will grow to a certain size (usually 3 to 5 feet depending on the variety), set fruit, and then stop growing.
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Rather than stardom, what the actress was chasing was a certain kind of creative immersion.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
Bulbs begin forming for each type once daylight reaches a certain number of hours daily.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
And such a schlub in a certain way.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Rather than stardom, what the actress was chasing was a certain kind of creative immersion.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
Bulbs begin forming for each type once daylight reaches a certain number of hours daily.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
And such a schlub in a certain way.
—Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for a certain
Cite this Entry
“A certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20certain. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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