doubt

Study(27)

/daʊt/

verb 5noun 2

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

considerable, grave, real, serious, severe

slight

I have a slight doubt about whether we should leave so early tomorrow morning.

gnawing, lingering, nagging, niggling | growing, increasing

personal, private

She had personal doubts about whether the new job was really right for her.

reasonable

There is reasonable doubt about whether he actually saw the accident happen.

religious

VERB + DOUBT

arouse, raise

The recent scandal has aroused considerable doubt about the company's honesty.

entertain, feel, harbour, have

My boss harboured serious doubts about whether the new project would actually succeed.

express, voice

clear up, dispel, remove, resolve

The new test results finally resolved our doubts about whether the treatment would work.

cast, throw

The witness's contradictory statements threw doubt on the defendant's alibi.

call sth into, throw sth into

Recent safety tests have called the new product into doubt.

be open to

Whether that restaurant review is accurate remains open to doubt.

DOUBT + VERB

appear, arise

Some doubts arose about whether the new software would actually work properly.

exist

Some doubt exists about whether that restaurant is actually open on Sundays.

persist, remain

surround sth

Many doubts surrounded the decision to close the local hospital last year.

PREP

beyond (a/all/any) ~

His talent as a musician is beyond any doubt.

in ~

When the game was cancelled due to bad weather, the team's chances of winning the championship were suddenly in doubt.

without (a) ~

He is without a doubt the kindest person in our entire office.

~ about/over

There is growing doubt about whether the new policy will actually work.

PHRASES

beyond/without a shadow of (a) doubt

The new safety equipment will, beyond a shadow of doubt, protect workers from injury.

have your doubts about sth

She claims the new restaurant is excellent, but I have my doubts about it.

(verb.)

ADV

seriously, very much

She very much doubted that her son would finish his homework without being asked.

privately

Sarah privately doubted whether her friend's excuse was genuine, but she said nothing.

Definitions

verb

To be undecided about; to lack confidence in; to disbelieve, to question.

He doubted that was really what you meant.

I had no wish to go, though I doubt if they would have noticed me even if I had.

To harbour suspicion about; suspect.

I walk by the Rule of my Maſter, you walk by the rude working of your fancies. You are counted thieves already, by the Lord of the way; therefore, I doubt you will not be found true men at the end of the way.

Rushing to the door of the church, [Robert the] Bruce met two powerful barons, [Roger de] Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, and James de Lindsay, who eagerly asked him what tidings? "Bad tidings," answered Bruce, "I doubt I have slain [John] Comyn." "Doubtest thou?" said Kirkpatrick, "I make sicker" (i.e. sure.) With these words, he and Lindsay rushed into the church, and dispatched the wounded Comyn.

To anticipate with dread or fear; to apprehend.

The rest of his horsemen the Duke sent to his campe, bicause they heard a great noise there, and doubted the enimies sally, and indeede they had issued foorth thrise, but were alwaies repulsed, especially through the valiantns of the English men that the Duke left there behind him [...]

Fear naught—nay, that I need not say— / But—doubt not aught from mine array. / Thou art my guest;—I pledged my word / As far as Coilantogle ford: [...]

To fill with fear; to affright.

I'll tell ye all my fears, one ſingle valour, / the vertues of the valiant Caratach / more doubts me then all Britain: [...]

To dread, to fear.

Edmond aþelstones broþer · after him was king · / Godmon & doutede · god þoru alle þing ·

Whilome in youth, when flowred my ioyfull ſpring, / Like ſwallow ſwift I wandred here and there: / For heat of heedleſſe luſt me ſo did ſting, / That I of doubted daunger had no feare.

noun

Disbelief or uncertainty (about something); (countable) a particular instance of such disbelief or uncertainty.

There was some doubt as to who the child's real father was.

I have doubts about how to convert this code to JavaScript.

A point of uncertainty, especially a yes/no or a multiple-choice question

Ma'am, I have a doubt about today's lecture

It is entirely normal to hear a statement like "I have just one doubt, miss" or "If you have any doubts before the exam tomorrow, come see me in the staff room". The doubts in the aforementioned sentences are not as much rooted in a lack of faith as in a lack of understanding.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of so

dubiousness
doubtfulness
question

noun — the state of being unsure of something

uncertainty
incertitude
dubiety
doubtfulness
dubiousness

Antonyms

certainty

Idioms & Phrases

beyond a shadow of a doubt

Without any doubt or hesitation at all.

I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that my sister would want to go to the concert.

room for doubt

Eventuality.

when in doubt, do nowt

When faced with a difficult decision, it is better not to take unnecessary risks.

Example Bank

He doubted that was really what you meant.

Wiktionary

I had no wish to go, though I doubt if they would have noticed me even if I had.

Wiktionary

Ther be but two wayes onely. The one whiche by followyng the affections ledeth to perdicion. The other whyche throughe the mortifyenge of the fleſhe: ledeth to lyfe, why doubteſt thou in thy ſelf: The

Wiktionary

There was some doubt as to who the child's real father was.

Wiktionary

I have doubts about how to convert this code to JavaScript.

Wiktionary

Thus they went on talking of what they had ſeen by the way; and ſo made that way eaſie, which would otherwiſe, no doubt, have been tedious to them; for now they went through a Wilderneſs.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, doubt is marked as archaic, obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

Your note

not saved

0 chars