doubt

[dout]

verb (used with object)

1. to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.

   The police have good reason to doubt his alibi.

   Synonyms: question, suspect, mistrust

2. to distrust; regard with suspicion.

   I doubted the salesman, so we decided to check with other dealers.

   Synonyms: question, suspect, mistrust

3. Archaic.,  to fear; be apprehensive about.

verb (used without object)

1. to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.

   The priest told me that it was normal to doubt, but encouraged me to nurture my faith.

noun

1. a feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature of something.

   We all had our doubts about your mysterious Canadian girlfriend since no one has ever seen her in person.

   Synonyms: irresolution, indecision

2. distrust or suspicion.

   Voters naturally held some doubt about the abrupt change in policy direction issued by city hall.

3. a general feeling of uncertainty, worry, or concern: Set your doubts aside, and listen to my business idea with an open mind.

   As soon as I'd dropped out of school to become a full-time musician, I was full of doubt—what if I’d made a terrible mistake?

   Set your doubts aside, and listen to my business idea with an open mind.

4. a state of affairs such as to occasion uncertainty.

5. Obsolete.,  fear; dread.

doubt

/ 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 his 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. to presume someone suspected of guilt to be innocent; judge leniently

7. almost certainly

verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to be inclined to disbelieve

   I doubt we are late

2. (tr) to distrust or be suspicious of

   he doubted their motives

3. (intr) to feel uncertainty or be undecided

4. (tr; may take a clause as object) to be inclined to believe

5. archaic,  (tr) to fear

6. I would expect nothing else from 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

Doubt and doubtful may be followed by a subordinate clause beginning with that, whether, or if: I doubt that (or whether or if ) the story is true. It is doubtful that (or whether or if ) the story is true. There is some doubt that (or whether or if ) the story is true. In negative or interrogative sentences, that almost always introduces the subordinate clause: I do not doubt that the story is true. Is it doubtful that the story is true? Is there any doubt that the story is true? The expressions doubt but and doubt but that occur in all varieties of standard speech and writing: I don't doubt but she is sincere. There is no doubt but that the charges will affect his career. Doubt but what occurs mainly in informal speech and writing: There is no doubt but what the rainy weather will hurt the crops.

Other Word Forms

• doubtably adverb
• doubtingly adverb
• doubter noun
• doubtable adjective
• doubtingness noun
• nondoubtable adjective
• nondoubter noun
• nondoubting adjective
• nondoubtingly adverb
• overdoubt verb (used with object)
• predoubt noun
• predoubter noun
• undoubtable adjective
• undoubting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of doubt¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb douten, duten, doubten, from Old French douter, doter “to doubt, be doubtful,” from Latin dubitāre “to waver, hesitate, be uncertain” (frequentative of Old Latin dubāre ), equivalent to dub- “doubt” + -it- frequentative suffix + -āre infinitive suffix; noun derivative of the verb. The -b- first appears between 1420–30 in imitation of Latin dubit-

Word History and Origins

Origin of doubt¹

C13: from Old French douter, from Latin dubitāre

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in doubt, in a state of uncertainty or suspense.

   His appointment to the position is still in doubt.

2. no doubt,

   1. probably.

   2. certainly.

      There is no doubt an element of truth in what you say.

3. beyond a / the shadow of a doubt, with certainty; definitely. Also beyond a doubt, beyond doubt.

4. without doubt, unquestionably; certainly.

see beyond a doubt; cast doubt on; give the benefit of the doubt; no doubt; shadow of a doubt.

Example Sentences

After a season full of doubt, the Dodgers appear to be legitimate World Series contenders once again, but are they capable to playing even better?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That looked to be in serious doubt a year ago when Labour swept to power at Westminster having comprehensively defeated the SNP in a national election for the first time in 14 years.

Read more on BBC

There's no doubt that if Scotland have a poor autumn series, a disappointing Six Nations and a bad summer then Townsend will be in trouble.

Read more on BBC

In the latter portions of the book, though, paraphrased conversations raise real questions—especially his conversations with Scalia, whom he recalls as a great friend, which is no doubt true.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Those post-Ibrox exploits may give some pause for thought and the man himself may have doubts over inheriting a struggling squad, but Gerrard likely has the personality to handle such a high-profile post.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ambiguity 
• apprehension 
• confusion 
• difficulty 
• disbelief 
• distrust 
• fear 
• hesitation 
• misgiving 
• mistrust 
• problem 
• qualm 
• reluctance 
• skepticism 
• suspense 
• suspicion 
• uncertainty