doubt
[ dout ]
/ daʊt /
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.
noun
Idioms for doubt
Origin of doubt
1175–1225; (v.) Middle English
douten < Anglo-French, Old French
douter < Latin
dubitāre to waver, hesitate, be uncertain (frequentative of OL
dubāre), equivalent to
dub- doubt +
-it- frequentative suffix +
-āre infinitive suffix; (noun) Middle English
doute < Anglo-French, Old French, derivative of the v.
SYNONYMS FOR doubt
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.
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 FROM doubt
Words nearby doubt
doubloon,
doublure,
doubly,
doubly armed suture,
doubs,
doubt,
doubtful,
doubting thomas,
doubtless,
douc,
douce
Example sentences from the Web for doubter
British Dictionary definitions for doubter
doubt
/ (daʊt) /
noun
verb
Derived forms of doubt
doubtable, adjective doubtably, adverb doubter, noun doubtingly, adverbWord Origin for 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
Idioms and Phrases with doubter
doubt
see beyond a doubt; cast doubt on; give the benefit of the doubt; no doubt; shadow of a doubt.