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
The moments that came from collaborations with folks or moments that came from the generosity of spirit of someone who is in recovery and wanted to share a story on a certain day.
—
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Heitinga explained how playing passes at a certain angle causes the unit and the opposition to adjust accordingly, emphasising the importance of intentionality and execution in every action.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2026
But there is a certain pressure to perform.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Worse, perhaps, leadership in moments of upheaval requires a certain theatricality and improvisational creativity that establishment Republican politicians tend to lack.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
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Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Heitinga explained how playing passes at a certain angle causes the unit and the opposition to adjust accordingly, emphasising the importance of intentionality and execution in every action.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2026
But there is a certain pressure to perform.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Worse, perhaps, leadership in moments of upheaval requires a certain theatricality and improvisational creativity that establishment Republican politicians tend to lack.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 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 1 Feb. 2026.
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