- doubt
- [[t]da͟ʊt[/t]]
♦♦doubts, doubting, doubted1) N-VAR: oft N about/as to n, N 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 no doubt about it, you mean that you are certain it is true.
This raises doubts about the point of advertising...
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.
Syn:2) VERB If you doubt whether something is true or possible, you believe that it is probably not true or possible.[V whether] Others doubted whether that would happen...
[V if] He doubted if he would learn anything new from Marie...
[V that] She doubted that the accident could have been avoided.
Ant:3) VERB If you doubt something, you believe that it might not be true or genuine.[V n] No one doubted his ability...
[V n] Nobody that I spoke to doubted his sincerity as a politician.
4) VERB If you doubt someone or doubt their word, you think that they may not be telling the truth.[V n] No one directly involved with the case doubted him...
[V n] I still have no reason to doubt his word.
Ant:5) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR (emphasis) 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.A referendum showed beyond doubt that voters wanted independence...
His ability is beyond any doubt.
6) PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR about/as to n If you are in doubt about something, you feel unsure or uncertain about it.He is in no doubt as to what is needed...
When in doubt, call the doctor.
7) CONVENTION You say I doubt it as a response to a question or statement about something that you think is untrue or unlikely.`Somebody would have seen her.' - `I doubt it, not on Monday.'
8) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that something is in doubt or open to doubt, you consider it to be uncertain or unreliable.The outcome was still in doubt...
That claim is increasingly open to doubt.
Syn:9) PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) You use no doubt to emphasize that something seems certain or very likely to you.The contract for this will no doubt be widely advertised...
She's a very sweet woman, as you no doubt know by now.
Syn:undoubtedly10) PHRASE: PHR with cl You use no doubt to indicate that you accept the truth of a particular point, but that you do not consider it is important or contradicts the rest of what you are saying.No doubt I'm biased, but it was the most cruel, evil human face I ever set eyes on...
No doubt many will regard these as harsh words, but regrettably they are true.
11) PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) If you say that something is true without doubt or without a doubt, you are emphasizing that it is definitely true.Without doubt this has become the most important relationship I've developed while at college...
The refugees, without a doubt, are the most vulnerable.
Syn:undoubtedly
English dictionary. 2008.
