certainly
♦♦ cer|tain|ly /s'ɜːrtənli/
1 [ADV] ADV with cl/group
You use certainly to emphasize what you are saying when you are making a statement.
The bombs are almost certainly part of a much bigger conspiracy...
Today's inflation figure is certainly too high...
Certainly, pets can help children develop friendship skills.
= undoubtedly
2 [ADV] ADV as reply
You use certainly when you are agreeing with what someone has said.
`In any case you remained friends.'--`Certainly.'...
`You keep out of their way don't you?'--`I certainly do.'
3 [ADV as reply]
You say certainly not when you want to say `no' in a strong way.
`Perhaps it would be better if I withdrew altogether.'--`Certainly not!'
1 [ADV] ADV with cl/group
You use certainly to emphasize what you are saying when you are making a statement.
The bombs are almost certainly part of a much bigger conspiracy...
Today's inflation figure is certainly too high...
Certainly, pets can help children develop friendship skills.
= undoubtedly
2 [ADV] ADV as reply
You use certainly when you are agreeing with what someone has said.
`In any case you remained friends.'--`Certainly.'...
`You keep out of their way don't you?'--`I certainly do.'
3 [ADV as reply]
You say certainly not when you want to say `no' in a strong way.
`Perhaps it would be better if I withdrew altogether.'--`Certainly not!'