doubt

[ dout ]

See synonyms for doubt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe: The police have good reason to doubt his alibi.
to distrust; regard with suspicion: I doubted the salesman, so we decided to check with other dealers.

Archaic. to fear; be apprehensive about.

verb (used without object)

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

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

a general feeling of uncertainty, worry, or concern: 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.
a state of affairs such as to occasion uncertainty.
Obsolete. fear; dread.

Idioms about doubt

beyond a / the shadow of a doubt, with certainty; definitely. : Also beyond a doubt, beyond doubt.
in doubt, in a state of uncertainty or suspense: His appointment to the position is still in doubt.

no doubt,
- probably.
- certainly: There is no doubt an element of truth in what you say.
without doubt, unquestionably; certainly.

Origin of doubt

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-

usage note For doubt

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 words for doubt

1, 2	mistrust, suspect, question
5	indecision, irresolution

See synonyms for doubt on Thesaurus.com

Other words from doubt

doubt·a·ble, adjective
doubt·a·bly, adverb
doubt·er, noun
doubt·ing·ly, adverb
doubt·ing·ness, noun
non·doubt·a·ble, adjective
non·doubt·er, noun
non·doubt·ing, adjective
non·doubt·ing·ly, adverb
o·ver·doubt, verb (used with object)
pre·doubt, noun, verb
pre·doubt·er, noun
un·doubt·a·ble, adjective
un·doubt·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use doubt in a sentence

But for me, this admittance of uncertainty and doubts grounds Serial in reality.
Adnan Killed Her! No, Jay Did It! Serial’s Uncertain, True-to-Reality End | Emily Shire | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
His deficiencies and self-doubts, amid his epochal mission of liberation, are precisely what make him interesting.
Meet Moses the Swashbuckling Israelite | James Romm | December 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He would rather endorse someone with genuine doubts than someone with disingenuous beliefs.
The Good Wife’s Religion Politics: Voters Have No Faith in Alicia's Atheism | Regina Lizik | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He is honest about his religious doubts, but he is committed to learning more about God.
The Good Wife’s Religion Politics: Voters Have No Faith in Alicia's Atheism | Regina Lizik | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Don Terry, a senior writer at the Southern Poverty Law Center, doubts it.
The Klan’s Call to Violence in Ferguson Blows the Lid Off Its Hypocritical Rebrand | Caitlin Dickson | November 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

His accumulating doubts hitherto unexpressed, almost unacknowledged even, were now confirmed.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
But such a thing as happened this morning must breed doubts and suspicions in a woman who has had the experience I have had.
Bella Donna | Robert Hichens
If any one doubts it let him compare the matrimonial opportunities of the ugly maternal girl and the ugly clever girl.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
However, madame, I count upon it that you will be able to dispel such doubts as I am fostering.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
Doubts have been expressed as to the success of co-operation because of the tightness of the Mahajan's hold on the ryots.
Third class in Indian railways | Mahatma Gandhi

British Dictionary definitions for doubt

doubt

/ (daʊt) /

noun

uncertainty about the truth, fact, or existence of something (esp in the phrases in doubt, without doubt, beyond a shadow of doubt, etc)
(often plural) lack of belief in or conviction about something: all his doubts about the project disappeared

an unresolved difficulty, point, etc
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
obsolete fear
give someone the benefit of the doubt to presume someone suspected of guilt to be innocent; judge leniently
no doubt almost certainly

verb

(tr; may take a clause as object) to be inclined to disbelieve: I doubt we are late
(tr) to distrust or be suspicious of: he doubted their motives

(intr) to feel uncertainty or be undecided
(tr; may take a clause as object) Scot to be inclined to believe
(tr) archaic to fear
I wouldn't doubt someone Irish I would expect nothing else from someone

Origin of doubt

C13: from Old French douter, from Latin dubitāre

usage For doubt

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 of doubt

doubtable, adjective
doubtably, adverb
doubter, noun
doubtingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with doubt

doubt

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

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