having or made of two things or parts that are equal or similar
double doors
a double-page advertisement
‘Otter’ is spelt with a double t.
My extension is two four double 0 (2400).
a high-profile double murder case
Olympic double gold medallist Mo Farah
for two people
enlarge image
made for two people or things
a double bed/room
a double garage
Which Word? double / dualdouble / dualThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
double ~
dual ~
bed
purpose
doors
function
figures
role
standards
approach
thickness
citizenship
Dual describes something that has two parts, uses or aspects.
Double can be used with a similar meaning, but when it is used to describe something that has two parts, the two parts are usually the same or very similar.
Double, but not dual, can describe something that is made for two people or things, or is twice as big as usual.
comparesingle
combining two things
combining two things or qualities
a double meaning/purpose/aim
It has the double advantage of being both easy and cheap.
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’ The verb is from Old French dobler, from late Latin duplare, from duplus.
Idioms
do/pull/serve double duty (as something)
to perform two roles or functions at the same time
This device can pull double duty as a decent laptop and an adequate tablet.
She deserves credit for serving double duty as a host and performer.
double
determiner
/ˈdʌbl/
/ˈdʌbl/
jump to other results
twice as much/many
twice as much or as many as
His income is double hers.
He earns double what she does.
We need double the amount we already have.
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’ The verb is from Old French dobler, from late Latin duplare, from duplus.
double
pronoun
/ˈdʌbl/
/ˈdʌbl/
jump to other results
twice as much/many
a number or amount that is twice as much or as many as another number or amount
He gets paid double for doing the same job I do.
The airline announced it would start charging double for people who couldn't fit in a single seat
Topics Maths and measurementa2
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’ The verb is from Old French dobler, from late Latin duplare, from duplus.
double
verb
/ˈdʌbl/
/ˈdʌbl/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they double
/ˈdʌbl/
/ˈdʌbl/
he / she / it doubles
/ˈdʌblz/
/ˈdʌblz/
past simple doubled
/ˈdʌbld/
/ˈdʌbld/
past participle doubled
/ˈdʌbld/
/ˈdʌbld/
-ing form doubling
/ˈdʌblɪŋ/
/ˈdʌblɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
jump to other results
become twice as much/many
[intransitive, transitive]to become, or make something become, twice as much or as many
Membership almost doubled in two years.
double in somethingThe town has approximately doubled in size since 1960.
The material I was buying suddenly doubled in price.
double somethingThe firm has promised to double the number of women promoted to partner by 2022.
Double all the quantities in the recipe to make enough for eight people.
Extra Examples
The party almost doubled its share of the vote to 21%.
The price of houses has nearly doubled in the last ten years.
This percentage could easily double.
Topics Maths and measurementa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
more than
almost
nearly
…
preposition
in
to
See full entry
fold
[transitive]double something (over)to bend or fold something so that there are two layers
She doubled the blanket and put it under his head.
in baseball
[intransitive]to hit the ball far enough for you to get to second base
He doubled to left field.
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’ The verb is from Old French dobler, from late Latin duplare, from duplus.
double
adverb
/ˈdʌbl/
/ˈdʌbl/
jump to other results
in two parts
in twos or in two parts
I thought I was seeing double(= seeing two of something).
Fold the blanket double.
I had to bend double to get under the table.
twice as much
at twice the amount; to twice the extent
You have to be careful, and this counts double for older people.
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’ The verb is from Old French dobler, from late Latin duplare, from duplus.
double
noun
/ˈdʌbl/
/ˈdʌbl/
Idioms
jump to other results
alcoholic drink
[countable]a glass of strong alcoholic drink containing twice the usual amount
Two Scotches, please—and make those doubles, will you?
person/thing
[countable]a person or thing that looks exactly like another
She's the double of her mother.
[countable]an actor who replaces another actor in a film to do dangerous or other special thingssee alsobody doubleTopics Film and theatreb2
bedroom
[countable]
(also double room)
a bedroom for two people
Is that a single or a double you want?
comparesingleTopics Holidaysb1
in sport
doubles
[uncountable + singular or plural verb]a game, especially of tennis, in which one pair plays another
mixed doubles (= in which each pair consists of a man and a woman)
comparesinglesTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsc1
the double
[singular]the fact of winning two important competitions or beating the same player or team twice, in the same season or year
She’s going for the double this year—the Olympics and the World Championship.
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’ The verb is from Old French dobler, from late Latin duplare, from duplus.
Idioms
at the double(British English)
(North American Englishon the double)
(informal)quickly; hurrying
double or quits(British English)
(North American Englishdouble or nothing)
(in gambling)a risk in which you could win twice the amount you pay, or you could lose all your money
enlarge imagemade for two people or things