Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to emphasize that you think something should be true, and you would be surprised if it was not true.
You’re an intelligent woman, ~ you realize by now that I’m helping you...
If I can accept this situation, ~ you can.
ADV: ADV with cl/group emphasis
2.
If something will ~ happen or is ~ the case, it will definitely happen or is definitely the case. (FORMAL)
He knew that under the surgeon’s knife he would ~ die...
He is an artist, just as ~ as Rembrandt or any other first-rate portrait painter is one.
= certainly
ADV: ADV with cl, ADV before v
3.
If you say that something is happening slowly but ~, you mean that it is happening gradually but it is definitely happening.
Slowly but ~ she started to fall in love with him...
PHRASE: PHR with cl