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Surely vs Certainly - What's the difference?

surely | certainly |

Certainly is a synonym of surely.



As adverbs the difference between surely and certainly

is that surely is without fail while certainly is in a way which is certain; with certainty.

surely

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • Without fail.
  • :
  • Certainly, undoubtedly.
  • :
  • *
  • *:But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ΒΆ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window.
  • With confidence.
  • :
  • Quotations

    *1611 , (King James Version of the Bible), 1:1 *:Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us.

    Synonyms

    * certainly, wis

    certainly

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a way which is certain; with certainty.
  • *, I.iii.2.2:
  • *:he verily thought he had young live frogs in his belly, qui vivebant ex alimento suo , that lived by his nourishment, and was so certainly persuaded of it, that for many years following he could not be rectified in his conceit.
  • Without doubt, surely.
  • :
  • :
  • :
  • *
  • *:So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=(Gary Younge)
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=18, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution , passage=WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets.}}
  • An emphatic affirmative answer; of course.
  • :
  • Synonyms

    * absolutely, beyond doubt, indubitably, sure thing, undoubtedly, wis, without a doubt

    Coordinate terms

    * maybe, possibly, arguably, questionably, probably, perhaps

    Derived terms

    * most certainly

    References

    * *