ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unsure

adj.
A2 Elementary US //ənˈʃʊɹ// UK //ʌnʃˈɔː// un·sure

adj. the feeling of not being certain about something. You use this when you have doubts or cannot make a clear decision.

adj. lacking certainty or confidence about a fact, a decision, or a future outcome. Often follows a linking verb and precedes a prepositional phrase or a clause.


SIMPLE

I am unsure about which path to take.

CONTEXTUAL

She felt unsure of her answer after seeing how quickly the other students finished the test.

COMPLEX

Investors remained unsure of the market's stability following the sudden regulatory changes, leading to a significant decrease in high-risk trading activity.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English unsure, equivalent to un- + sure. Piecewise doublet of insecure and unsecure.

Usage

Commonly followed by the prepositions 'of' or 'about', or by a 'whether' clause.

Pitfall

I am unsure for the timeI am unsure of the timeLearners often use 'for' when they should use 'of' or 'about' to indicate the subject of their doubt.

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