Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense doubts, present participle doubting, past tense, past participle doubted
1. variable noun [NOUN that]
If you have doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it and do not know whether it is true or possible. If you say you have nodoubtabout it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
This raises doubts about the point of advertising. [+ about/as to]
I had my doubts when she started, but she's getting really good.
They were troubled and full of doubt.
There can be little doubt that he will offend again.
Local inhabitants haven't the slightest doubt as to who is the rightful owner. [+ about/as to]
Synonyms: uncertainty, confusion, hesitation, dilemma More Synonyms of doubt
2. verb
If you doubt whether something is true or possible, you believe that it is probably not true or possible.
Others doubted whether that would happen. [V if]
He doubted if he would learn anything new from Marie. [V if]
She doubted that the accident could have been avoided. [VERB that]
3. verb
If you doubt something, you believe that it might not be true or genuine.
No one doubted his ability. [VERB noun]
Nobody that I spoke to doubted his sincerity as a politician. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If you doubt someone or doubt their word, you think that they may not be telling the truth.
No one directly involved with the case doubted him. [VERB noun]
I still have no reason to doubt his word. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: disbelieve, question, challenge, suspect More Synonyms of doubt
5.
See beyond doubt
6.
See in doubt
7.
See I doubt it
8.
See in doubt
9.
See no doubt
10.
See no doubt
11.
See without (a) doubt
12. the benefit of the doubt
13. a shadow of a doubt
More Synonyms of doubt
doubt in British English
(daʊt)
noun
1.
uncertainty about the truth, fact, or existence of something (esp in the phrases in doubt, without doubt, beyond a shadow of doubt, etc)
2. (often plural)
lack of belief in or conviction about something
all her doubts about the project disappeared
3.
an unresolved difficulty, point, etc
4. philosophy
the methodical device, esp in the philosophy of Descartes, of identifying certain knowledge as the residue after rejecting any proposition which might, however improbably, be false
5. obsolete
fear
6. give someone the benefit of the doubt
7. no doubt
verb
8. (tr; may take a clause as object)
to be inclined to disbelieve
I doubt we are late
9. (transitive)
to distrust or be suspicious of
he doubted their motives
10. (intransitive)
to feel uncertainty or be undecided
11. (tr; may take a clause as object) Scottish
to be inclined to believe
12. (transitive) archaic
to fear
13. I wouldn't doubt someone
▶ USAGE Where a clause follows doubt in a positive sentence, it was formerly considered correct to use whether (I doubt whether he will come ), but now if and that are also acceptable. In negative statements, doubt is followed by that: I do not doubt that he is telling the truth. In such sentences, but (I do not doubt but that he is telling the truth) is redundant
Derived forms
doubtable (ˈdoubtable)
adjective
doubtably (ˈdoubtably)
adverb
doubter (ˈdoubter)
noun
doubtingly (ˈdoubtingly)
adverb
Word origin
C13: from Old French douter, from Latin dubitāre
doubt in American English
(daʊt)
verb intransitive
1.
to be uncertain in opinion or belief; be undecided
2.
to be inclined to disbelief
3. Archaic
to hesitate
verb transitive
4.
to be uncertain about; question; feel distrust of
5.
to be inclined to disbelieve; be skeptical of
6. Archaic
to be fearful or suspicious of
noun
7.
a.
a wavering of opinion or belief; lack of conviction; uncertainty
b.
lack of trust or confidence
8.
a condition of uncertainty
the outcome was in doubt
9.
an unsettled point or matter; difficulty
10. Obsolete
apprehension or fear
SIMILAR WORDS: unˈcertainty
Idioms:
beyond doubt
no doubt
Derived forms
doubtable (ˈdoubtable)
adjective
doubter (ˈdoubter)
noun
doubtingly (ˈdoubtingly)
adverb
Word origin
ME douten < OFr douter < L dubitare, to waver in opinion < dubius, dubious; -b- reintroduced, after L, in 16th c.
More idioms containing
doubt
give someone the benefit of the doubt
COBUILD Collocations
doubt
dispel doubts
harbour doubt
lingering doubt
nagging doubts
niggling doubt
raise doubts
sow doubt
the slightest doubt
voice doubts
Examples of 'doubt' in a sentence
doubt
There was little doubt about whose side the public were on.
The Sun (2017)
You and your partner discuss doubts but then feel a real connection.
The Sun (2016)
Honey has absolutely no doubt about her potential.
The Sun (2016)
No one doubts that the work needs to be done.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But the threshold to prove these cases beyond any reasonable doubt is very high.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The same is no doubt true across many fields.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There is little doubt that the party will unite behind the winner.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The doubts are not good.
The Sun (2016)
The court said that the offence would not constitute a criminal record, but the verdict raised doubts about her ability to remain in her post.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Belief, like doubt, can be contagious.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We have no doubt about our case.
The Sun (2009)
That he will raise himself again is beyond doubt.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She seems in little doubt that the answer would be no.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So what does he do when he begins to doubt his own ability?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is no doubting his conviction or underlying humanity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Long-term partners let the doubts go and feel lucky to have each other.
The Sun (2013)
To fail to complete the quick cryptic removes all possible doubt.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet no one doubts that we need new treatments.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are good reasons for doubting how effective these actions will be.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Without a doubt something strange has gone on.
The Sun (2009)
Their existence threw doubt on the entire concept.
Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)
There is no doubt about who is buying.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is beyond doubt that there is a problem with red tape.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
No doubt that was true for many decades.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
There were certainly doubts about the case against him at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
For about the necessity for a religion there was little or no doubt.
Michael Burleigh Earthly Powers: Religion and Politics in Europe from the Enlightenment to the GreatWar (2005)
How will she feel about him doubting their relationship?
The Sun (2016)
There was no possible shadow of doubt about this.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His subsequent report threw doubt on the conviction of all ten and led to the cases being reviewed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Are we courageous enough to allow the young people in our lives and church to wrestle with doubt and difficulty?
Christianity Today (2000)
But then the doubts come again.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They can leave the person feeling anxious, disgusted and full of doubt.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You're encouraged to overcome either doubts or beliefs that certain pursuits are boring.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If there are few doubts over his ability, there have been many concerning his character.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But it is no longer the salient quality of the story, which is full of doubt and grief.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
There lives more faith in honest doubt, Believe me, than in half the creedsAlfred TennysonIn Memoriam A.H.H.
I show you doubt, to prove that faith existsRobert BrowningBalaustion's Adventure
If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certaintiesFrancis BaconThe Advancement of Learning
Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubtCardinal NewmanApologia pro Vita Sua
Our doubts are traitors And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attemptWilliam ShakespeareMeasure for Measure
Doubt of the reality of love ends by making us doubt everythingHenri Frédéric AmielJournal
In other languages
doubt
British English: doubt /daʊt/ NOUN
If you feel doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it.
This raises doubts about the point of advertising.
American English: doubt
Arabic: شَكّ
Brazilian Portuguese: dúvida
Chinese: 怀疑
Croatian: sumnja
Czech: pochybnost
Danish: tvivl
Dutch: twijfel
European Spanish: duda
Finnish: epäily
French: doute
German: Zweifel
Greek: αμφιβολία
Italian: dubbio
Japanese: 疑い
Korean: 의심
Norwegian: tvil
Polish: wątpliwość
European Portuguese: dúvida
Romanian: îndoiala
Russian: сомнение
Latin American Spanish: duda
Swedish: tvivel
Thai: ความสงสัย
Turkish: kuşku
Ukrainian: сумнів
Vietnamese: sự nghi ngờ
British English: doubt /daʊt/ VERB
If you doubt something, or if you doubt whether something is true or possible, you believe that it is probably not true, genuine, or possible.
No one doubted his ability.
American English: doubt
Arabic: يَرْتاَبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: duvidar
Chinese: 疑惑
Croatian: sumnjati
Czech: pochybovat
Danish: tvivle
Dutch: twijfelen
European Spanish: dudar
Finnish: epäillä ei uskoa johonkin
French: douter
German: zweifeln
Greek: αμφιβάλω
Italian: dubitare
Japanese: 疑う
Korean: 의심하다
Norwegian: tvile
Polish: zwątpić
European Portuguese: duvidar
Romanian: a se îndoi
Russian: сомневаться
Latin American Spanish: dudar
Swedish: tvivla
Thai: สงสัย
Turkish: kuşku duymak
Ukrainian: сумніватися
Vietnamese: nghi ngờ
All related terms of 'doubt'
in doubt
If you are in doubt about something, you feel unsure or uncertain about it.
no doubt
You use no doubt to emphasize that something seems certain or very likely to you.
sow doubt
If you have doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it and do not know whether it is true or possible . If you say you have no doubt about it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
self-doubt
Self-doubt is a lack of confidence in yourself and your abilities.
beyond doubt
You say that something is beyond doubt or beyond reasonable doubt when you are certain that it is true and it cannot be contradicted or disproved .
harbour doubt
If you have doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it and do not know whether it is true or possible . If you say you have no doubt about it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
I doubt it
You say I doubt it as a response to a question or statement about something that you think is untrue or unlikely .
lingering doubt
If you have doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it and do not know whether it is true or possible . If you say you have no doubt about it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
niggling doubt
If you have doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it and do not know whether it is true or possible . If you say you have no doubt about it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
reasonable doubt
a degree of uncertainty for which a reason can be given
without (a) doubt
If you say that something is true without doubt or without a doubt , you are emphasizing that it is definitely true.
the slightest doubt
If you have doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it and do not know whether it is true or possible . If you say you have no doubt about it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
benefit of the doubt
a favorable opinion or judgment adopted despite uncertainty
beyond reasonable doubt
if something is proved beyond reasonable doubt , it is legally accepted as being true
I wouldn't doubt someone
I would expect nothing else from someone
the benefit of the doubt
If you give someone the benefit of the doubt , you treat them as if they are telling the truth or as if they have behaved properly, even though you are not sure that this is the case .
a shadow of a doubt a shadow of doubt
If you say that something is true without a shadow of a doubt or without a shadow of doubt , you are emphasizing that there is no doubt at all that it is true.
give someone the benefit of the doubt
to decide to believe that what someone is saying or doing is honest and right, even though it is possible that they are not telling the truth or that they are doing something wrong
Chinese translation of 'doubt'
doubt
(daut)
n(c/u)
(= uncertainty) 怀(懷)疑 (huáiyí) (种(種), zhǒng)
vt
(= disbelieve)
[person]怀(懷)疑 (huáiyí)
[person's word]不信 (bù xìn)
(= mistrust, suspect) 怀(懷)疑 (huáiyí)
without (a) doubt无(無)疑地 (wúyí de)
to be in doubt不确(確)定 (bù quèdìng)
beyond doubt毫无(無)疑问(問)地 (háo wú yíwèn de)
no doubt无(無)疑地 (wúyí de)
to doubt if or whether ... 拿不准(準)是否 ... (ná bù zhǔn shìfǒu ... )
I doubt it (very much)我(很)怀(懷)疑 (wǒ (hěn) huáiyí)
I don't doubt that ... 我毫不怀(懷)疑 ... (wǒ háo bù huáiyí ... )
All related terms of 'doubt'
no doubt
无(無)疑地 wúyí de
beyond doubt
毫无(無)疑问(問) háowú yíwèn
to be in doubt
不确(確)定 bù quèdìng
I don't doubt that ...
我毫不怀(懷)疑 ... wǒ háo bù huáiyí ...
to cast doubt on sth
对(對)某事产(產)生怀(懷)疑 duì mǒushì chǎnshēng huáiyí
to doubt if or whether ...
拿不准(準)是否 ... ná bù zhǔn shìfǒu ...
to give sb the benefit of the doubt
在证(證)据(據)不足的情况(況)下,假定某人无(無)辜 zài zhèngjù bùzú de qíngkuàng xià, jiǎdìng mǒurén wúgū
I doubt it (very much)
我(很)怀(懷)疑 wǒ (hěn) huáiyí
without (a) doubt
无(無)疑地 wúyí de
without or beyond a shadow of (a) doubt
毫无(無)疑问(問) háo wú yíwèn
1 (noun)
Definition
uncertainty about the truth, facts, or existence of something
They were troubled and full of doubt.
Synonyms
uncertainty
The magazine ignores all the uncertainties students currently face.
confusion
hesitation
After some hesitation, he answered her question.
dilemma
scepticism
misgiving
She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.
suspense
a writer who holds the suspense throughout her tale
indecision
After months of indecision, they gave the go-ahead on Monday.
bewilderment
lack of confidence
hesitancy
A trace of hesitancy showed in Dr Stockton's eyes.
perplexity
vacillation
lack of conviction
irresolution
dubiety
Opposites
confidence
,
belief
,
conviction
,
certainty
2 (noun)
Definition
uncertainty about the truth, facts, or existence of something
Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.
Synonyms
suspicion
Our culture harbours deep suspicions of big-time industry.
scepticism
The report has inevitably been greeted with scepticism.
distrust
an atmosphere of distrust
questioning
fear
His fear might be groundless.
reservations
cynicism
This talk betrays a certain cynicism about free trade.
disbelief
She looked at him in disbelief.
apprehension
It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.
mistrust
There was mutual mistrust between the two men.
misgivings
disquiet
qualms
incredulity
The announcement has been met with incredulity.
lack of faith
misbelief
Opposites
trust
,
confidence
,
belief
3 (noun)
Definition
an unresolved difficulty or point
There is some doubt whether it will be any more effective.
Synonyms
difficulty
The main difficulty has been getting enough students to try out the scheme.
problem
the economic problems of the inner city
confusion
Omissions in my recent article may have caused some confusion.
dilemma
ambiguity (informal)
the ambiguities of language
quandary
The anonymous letter creates a quandary for the judge.
perplexity
My chief perplexity was how to interpret the words.
1 (verb)
They doubted whether that could happen.
Synonyms
be uncertain
question
query
No one queried my decision.
be sceptical
have reservations about
be dubious
2 (verb)
Stop doubting and start loving.
Synonyms
waver
Some military commanders wavered over whether to support the coup.
hesitate
She hesitated, debating whether to answer the phone.
vacillate
She is vacillating over whether or not to marry him.
sway
fluctuate
Body temperatures can fluctuate when you are ill.
dither mainly British)
We're still dithering over whether to go away on holiday next week.
haver
oscillate
The needle indicating volume was oscillating wildly.
chop and change
blow hot and cold (informal)
I blew hot and cold as I weighed up the pros and cons.
keep changing your mind
shillyshally (informal)
be irresolute or indecisive
swither (Scottish)
3 (verb)
Definition
to distrust or be suspicious of
I have no reason to doubt his word.
Synonyms
disbelieve
There is no reason to disbelieve his account of the events.
question
It never occurs to them to question the doctor's decisions.
challenge
suspect
You don't really think he suspects you, do you?
dispute
He disputed the allegations.
query
distrust
I don't have any reason to distrust them.
mistrust
I mistrust all journalists.
cast doubt on
have doubts about
lack confidence in
have misgivings about
misgive
Opposites
believe
,
accept
,
trust
,
buy (slang)
,
swallow (informal)
,
take on board
,
have faith in
phrases
See in doubt
See no doubt
Usage note
In affirmative sentences, whether was in the past the only word considered acceptable for linking the verb doubt to a following clause, for example I doubt whether he will come. Nowadays, doubt if and doubt that are both considered acceptable alternatives to doubt whether. In negative sentences, use that after doubt, for example I don't doubt that he is telling the truth. The old-fashioned form not doubt but that, as in I do not doubt but that he is telling the truth, is now rarely used and sounds very stiff and formal.
Quotations
There lives more faith in honest doubt, Believe me, than in half the creeds [Alfred Tennyson – In Memoriam A.H.H.]I show you doubt, to prove that faith exists [Robert Browning – Balaustion's Adventure]If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties [Francis Bacon – The Advancement of Learning]Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt [Cardinal Newman – Apologia pro Vita Sua]Our doubts are traitors And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt [William Shakespeare – Measure for Measure]Doubt of the reality of love ends by making us doubt everything [Henri Frédéric Amiel – Journal]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ambiguity
Definition
the possibility of interpreting an expression in more than one way
the ambiguities of language
Synonyms
vagueness,
doubt,
puzzle,
uncertainty,
obscurity,
enigma,
equivocation,
inconclusiveness,
indefiniteness,
dubiety,
dubiousness,
tergiversation,
indeterminateness,
equivocality,
doubtfulness,
equivocacy
in the sense of apprehension
Definition
anxiety or dread
It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future.
Synonyms
anxiety,
concern,
fear,
worry,
doubt,
alarm,
suspicion,
dread,
unease,
mistrust,
misgiving,
disquiet,
premonition,
trepidation (formal),
foreboding,
uneasiness,
pins and needles,
apprehensiveness
in the sense of blow hot and cold
I blew hot and cold as I weighed up the pros and cons.