uncertainly

uncertainly — adverb

1. in a hesitant or doubtful way — acting or speaking without confidence because yo

1.adverbB2
Definition

in a hesitant or doubtful way — acting or speaking without confidence because you are not sure what to do, say, or believe

Example

Eli glanced uncertainly at the dark staircase before taking the first step.

adverb after verb of perception: glanced uncertainly

Tariro smiled uncertainly, not knowing whether the joke was meant to be funny or hurtful.

adverb describing facial expression: smiled uncertainly

Common collocations
  • smile uncertainly
  • glance uncertainly
  • speak uncertainly
  • look uncertainly
  • step uncertainly
  • move uncertainly
  • pause uncertainly
Synonyms
  • hesitantly

    focuses more on the physical pause or delay before acting; may be used even when the person knows what they want to do

  • doubtfully

    emphasises intellectual uncertainty — questioning whether something is true or correct

  • tentatively

    suggests a careful, experimental approach to test the situation, not necessarily a lack of confidence

Antonyms
  • confidently

    in a way that shows full belief in your own ability or judgment

Grammar Patterns

verb + uncertainly

uncertainly before verb (less common)

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs of perception (looked, glanced), speech (said, asked), and facial expression (smiled, frowned). The adverb almost always follows the verb it modifies rather than preceding it.

Common Mistakes

I am uncertainly about the plan.
I am uncertain about the plan.
'Uncertainly' is an adverb and cannot follow a linking verb (am) as a subject complement; use the adjective 'uncertain' after 'be' verbs.
She uncertainly answered the question.
She answered the question uncertainly.
For this adverb, putting it after the verb sounds more natural in most contexts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four adverbs describe actions done without full confidence, but each has a different angle. 'Uncertainly' is the broadest — your inner doubt shows visibly in how you move, speak, or react, usually because you truly do not know what to do or believe. 'Hesitantly' focuses on the pause or delay before an action; a person may hesitate out of politeness or caution even when they are perfectly sure what to do. 'Doubtfully' emphasises intellectual questioning — you doubt whether something is true, honest, or right. 'Tentatively' suggests doing something on a trial basis to test the result, not necessarily because you lack confidence. For example, Eli uncertainly approached the stray dog (he was not sure it was safe), but he tentatively held out his hand (testing whether the dog would sniff it).

uncertainly ↗hesitantlydoubtfully ↗tentatively

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the adverb-forming suffix -ly to the adjective 'uncertain', which itself comes from the prefix un- (meaning 'not') attached to 'certain'. 'Certain' entered English through Old French from Latin 'certus', meaning 'sure, fixed, settled'. The word has been in English use since at least the 15th century.