adj
Meaning 1
uncertain, ambivalent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- I'm still unsure whether to attend the wedding.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
unsure
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ʊə(ɹ)
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CMU ARPABET: AH0 N SH UH1 R Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
unstable or precarious
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- unsure footing
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
Meaning 3
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- uncertain of his convictions
- unsure of himself and his future
- moving with uncertain (or unsure) steps
- an uncertain smile
- touched the ornaments with uncertain fingers
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: uncertain, incertain
Antonyms: sure
adjective
Meaning 4
lacking self-confidence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- stood in the doorway diffident and abashed
- problems that call for bold not timid responses
- a very unsure young man
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: diffident, shy, timid
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English unsure, equivalent to un- + sure. Piecewise doublet of insecure and unsecure.
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: неуве́рен (neuvéren) — uncertain
- Bulgarian: несигурен (nesiguren) — uncertain
- Chinese Mandarin: 不確定 /不确定 (bù quèdìng) — uncertain
- Finnish: epävarma — uncertain
- French: incertain — uncertain
- German: unsicher — uncertain
- Hungarian: bizonytalan — uncertain
- Italian: incerto — uncertain
- Latin: incertus — uncertain
- Māori: matawaenga — uncertain
- Māori: maunawenawe — uncertain
- Māori: hokirua — uncertain
- Māori: pōhauhau — uncertain
- Russian: неуве́ренный (neuvérennyj) — uncertain
- Swedish: osäker — uncertain
- Bulgarian: несигурен (nesiguren) — unstable or precarious
- Bulgarian: опасен (opasen) — unstable or precarious
- Finnish: epävarma — unstable or precarious
- Hungarian: bizonytalan — unstable or precarious
- Swedish: oförsiktig — unstable or precarious
- Swedish: osäker — unstable or precarious