- uncertainty
- nounADJECTIVE▪ considerable, great, high (esp. AmE), significant, substantial▪
The 1990s were a period of high uncertainty for businesses.
▪ fundamental▪It still leaves us with fundamental uncertainties about why the famine happened.
▪ inherent▪the inherent uncertainty in economic and budgetary forecasts
▪ current▪ growing▪ continuing, lingering▪ economic, financial, legal, political, scientific… OF UNCERTAINTY▪ amount, degree, elementVERB + UNCERTAINTY▪ cause, create, generate, give rise to (esp. BrE), introduce, lead to▪ add, add to, increase▪Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.
▪Her comments will add uncertainty to an already complicated situation.
▪ reduce▪ eliminate, end, remove, resolve▪ bring an end to (BrE), put an end to (esp. BrE)▪ express, show▪I expressed some uncertainty on the point.
▪Her expression showed her uncertainty.
▪ face▪They are facing some uncertainty about their jobs.
UNCERTAINTY + VERB▪ surround sth▪the uncertainty surrounding the proposed changes in the law
▪ exist▪Some uncertainty still exists about the safety of the new drug.
▪ remain▪Considerable uncertainty remains about this approach.
PREPOSITION▪ uncertainty about▪a feeling of uncertainty about his future
▪ uncertainty as to▪There's considerable uncertainty as to whether the government's job creation strategies will work.
▪ uncertainty in▪There is considerable uncertainty in our understanding of global warming.
▪ uncertainty over▪uncertainty over the safety of the drug
▪ uncertainty regarding▪This will remove any uncertainties regarding possible contamination.
PHRASES▪ an area of uncertainty▪One area of uncertainty remains: who will lead the team?
▪ an atmosphere of uncertainty, a climate of uncertainty▪a climate of global economic uncertainty
▪ a feeling of uncertainty, a moment of uncertainty▪Chris experienced a moment of uncertainty.
▪ a period of uncertainty, a source of uncertainty▪The economy became a source of uncertainty and discontent.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
