doubt (daʊt
)
Definitions
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
- See give someone the benefit of the doubt
- See no doubt
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) Scottish to be inclined to believe
- (tr) archaic to fear
- See I wouldn't doubt someone
Alternative Forms
ˈdoubtable adjective ˈdoubtably adverb ˈdoubter noun ˈdoubtingly adverbWord Origin
C13: from Old French douter, from Latin dubitāreSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
uncertainty,
confusion,
hesitation,
dilemma,
scepticism,
misgiving,
suspense,
indecision,
bewilderment,
lack of confidence
hesitancy,
perplexity,
vacillation,
lack of conviction
irresolution,
dubiety,
=
suspicion,
scepticism,
distrust,
questioning,
fear,
reservations,
cynicism,
disbelief,
apprehension,
mistrust,
misgivings,
disquiet,
qualms,
incredulity,
lack of faith
misbelief,
Quotations
"There lives more faith in honest doubt,Believe me, than in half the creeds"
"I show you doubt, to prove that faith exists"
"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties"
"Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt"
"Our doubts are traitorsAnd make us lose the good we oft might winBy fearing to attempt"
"Doubt of the reality of love ends by making us doubt everything"
Translations
- British English:
doubt
If you feel doubt or doubts about something, you feel uncertain about it.This raises doubts about the point of advertising.daʊt NOUN This raises doubts about the point of advertising.
- Spanish:
duda
nf
- French:
doute
nm
- German:
Zweifel
nm Zweifel
- Chinese: 怀疑 n
- Arabic: شَكّ n
- Portuguese: dúvida nf
- Russian: сомнение nnt
- Croatian: sumnja nf
- Czech: pochyba nf
- Danish: tvivl nutr
- Dutch: twijfel nm
- Finnish: epäily n
- Greek: αμφιβολία nf
- Italian: dubbio nm
- Japanese: 疑い n
- Korean: 의심 n
- Norwegian: tvil nm
- Polish: wątpliwość nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: dúvida nf
- European Spanish:
duda
nf
- Swedish: tvivel nnt
- Thai: ความสงสัย n
- Turkish: kuşku n
- Vietnamese: sự nghi ngờ n
- British English:
doubt
If you doubt something, or if you doubt whether something is true or possible, you believe that it is probably not true, genuine, or possible.No one doubted his ability.daʊt VERB No one doubted his ability.
- Spanish:
dudar
v
- French:
douter
vi
- German:
zweifeln
v
- Chinese: 疑惑 v
- Arabic: يَرْتاَبُ v
- Portuguese: duvidar v
- Russian: сомневаться v
- Croatian: sumnjati v
- Czech: zapochybovat v pochybovat
- Danish: tvivle v
- Dutch: twijfelen v
- Finnish: epäillä v
- Greek: αμφιβάλω v
- Italian: dubitare v
- Japanese: 疑う v
- Korean: 의심하다 v
- Norwegian: tvile v
- Polish: zwątpić v wątpić
- Brazilian Portuguese: duvidar v
- European Spanish:
dudar
v
- Swedish: tvivla v
- Thai: สงสัย v
- Turkish: kuşku duymak v
- Vietnamese: nghi ngờ n
Usage examples
And I've no doubt there are plenty of pagans in your camp who would aid us.
, TREASON KEEP (2001)There is, of course, no doubt that reform of our sugar policy is long overdue.
Country Life (2004)Republic of Ireland winger Mark Kennedy has emerged as an early doubt for next week's friendly against Denmark.
Irish Times (2002)The quality and range of her voice is in no doubt , save a few unnecessary vocal gymnastics.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Nine doctors were in attendance; a group of men who no doubt harboured very mixed feelings.
, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)