doubt

doubt  (dout)

v. doubt·ed, doubt·ing, doubts

v.tr.

1. To be undecided or skeptical about: began to doubt some accepted doctrines.

2. To tend to disbelieve; distrust: doubts politicians when they make sweeping statements.

3. To regard as unlikely: I doubt that we'll arrive on time.

4. Archaic To suspect; fear.

v.intr.

To be undecided or skeptical.

n.

1. A lack of certainty that often leads to irresolution. See Synonyms at uncertainty.

2. A lack of trust.

3. A point about which one is uncertain or skeptical: reassured me by answering my doubts.

4. The condition of being unsettled or unresolved: an outcome still in doubt.

Idioms:

beyond/without doubt

Without question; certainly; definitely.

no doubt

1. Certainly.

2. Probably.

---

[Middle English douten, from Old French douter, from Latin dubitre, to waver; see dwo- in Indo-European roots.]

---

doubter n.

Usage Note: Doubt and doubtful may be followed by clauses introduced by that, whether, or if. The choice among these three is partly guided by the intended meaning of the sentence but is not cast in stone. Whether normally introduces an indirect question and is therefore the traditional choice when the subject is in a state of genuine uncertainty about alternative possibilities: Sue has studied so much philosophy this year that she has begun to doubt whether she exists. Similarly, when doubtful indicates uncertainty, whether is probably the correct choice: At one time it was doubtful whether the company could recover from its financial difficulties, but the bank loan has helped. On the other hand, that is the choice when one uses doubt as an understated way of expressing disbelief: I doubt that we have seen the last of that problem, meaning "I think we haven't seen the last of that problem." That is also the usual choice when the truth of the clause following doubt is assumed, as in negative sentences and questions. Thus I never doubted for a minute that I would be rescued implies "I was certain that I would be rescued." By the same token, Do you doubt that you will be paid? seems to pose a rhetorical question ("Surely you believe that you will be paid"), whereas Do you doubt whether you will be paid? may express a genuine request for information and might be followed by because if you do, you should make the client post a bond. In other cases, however, this distinction between whether and that is not always observed. If may also be used as a substitute for whether but is more informal in tone. · In informal speech the clause following doubt is sometimes introduced with but: I don't doubt but (or but what) he will come. Although modern critics sometimes object to its use in formal writing, reputable precedent exists for this construction, as Richard Steele's remark "I do not doubt but England is at present as polite a Nation as any in the World." See Usage Notes at but, if.

---

doubt

Noun

1. uncertainty about the truth, facts, or existence of something

2. an unresolved difficulty or point

3. give someone the benefit of the doubt accept that someone is speaking the truth

4. no doubt almost certainly

Verb

1. to be inclined to disbelieve: I doubt that we are late

2. to distrust or be suspicious of: he doubted their motives [Latin dubitare to hesitate]

doubter n

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.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	doubt - the state of being unsure of something doubtfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, incertitude, uncertainty cognitive state, state of mind - the state of a person's cognitive processes arriere pensee, mental reservation, reservation - an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly distrust, mistrust, suspicion, misgiving - doubt about someone's honesty disbelief, incredulity, mental rejection, skepticism - doubt about the truth of something indecision, indecisiveness, irresolution - doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action; "his indecision was only momentary but the opportunity was lost" peradventure - doubt or uncertainty as to whether something is the case; "this proves beyond peradventure that he is innocent" suspense - an uncertain cognitive state; "the matter remained in suspense for several years"
	2.	doubt - uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something; "the dubiousness of his claim"; "there is no question about the validity of the enterprise" doubtfulness, dubiousness, question uncertainness, uncertainty, precariousness - being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance; "the uncertainty of the outcome"; "the precariousness of his income"
Verb	1.	doubt - consider unlikely or have doubts about; "I doubt that she will accept his proposal of marriage" disbelieve, discredit - reject as false; refuse to accept
	2.	doubt - lack confidence in or have doubts about; "I doubt these reports"; "I suspect her true motives"; "she distrusts her stepmother" distrust, mistrust, suspect - regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in

---

doubt

noun 1. uncertainty, confusion, hesitation, dilemma, scepticism, misgiving, suspense, indecision, bewilderment, lack of confidence, hesitancy, perplexity, vacillation, lack of conviction, irresolution, dubiety << OPPOSITE certainty

noun 2. suspicion, scepticism, distrust, fear, apprehension, mistrust, misgivings, disquiet, qualms, incredulity, lack of faith << OPPOSITE belief

verb 3. be uncertain, be sceptical, be dubious

verb 4. waver, hesitate, vacillate, sway, fluctuate, dither chiefly Brit. haver, oscillate, chop and change, blow hot and cold (informal) keep changing your mind, shillyshally (informal) be irresolute or indecisive, swither Scot.

verb 5. disbelieve, question, suspect, query, distrust, mistrust, lack confidence in, misgive << OPPOSITE believe >> no doubt certainly, surely, probably, admittedly, doubtless, assuredly, doubtlessly

USAGE In affirmative sentences, whether was in the past the only word considered acceptable for linking the verb doubt to a following clause, for example I doubt whether he will come. Nowadays, doubt if and doubt that are both considered acceptable alternatives to doubt whether. In negative sentences, use that after doubt, for example I don't doubt that he is telling the truth. The old-fashioned form not doubt but that, as in I do not doubt but that he is telling the truth, is now rarely used and sounds very stiff and formal.

Translations

doubt [daut] n → duda

vt → dudar (= suspect); dudar de;

to doubt that → dudar que;

there is no doubt that → no cabe duda de que;

without (a) doubt → sin duda (alguna);

beyond doubt → fuera de duda;

I doubt it very much → lo dudo mucho

---

doubt [daut] n → doute m

vt → douter de;

no doubt → sans doute;

without (a) doubt → sans aucun doute;

beyond doubt adv → indubitablement

adj → indubitable;

to doubt that → douter que + sub;

I doubt it very much → j'en doute fort

---

doubt [daut] n → Zweifel m

vt → bezweifeln;

without (a) doubt → ohne Zweifel;

to doubt sb → jdm nicht glauben;

I doubt it (very much) → das bezweifle ich (sehr), das möchte ich (stark) bezweifeln;

to doubt if or whether ... → bezweifeln, dass ...;

I don't doubt that ... → ich bezweifle nicht, dass ...

---

doubt [daut] n → dubbio

vt → dubitare di;

to doubt that → dubitare che + sub;

without (a) doubt → senza dubbio;

beyond doubt → fuor di dubbio;

I doubt it very much → ho i miei dubbi, nutro seri dubbi in proposito

---

doubt

v doubt [daut]

1 to feel uncertain about, but inclined not to believe I doubt if he'll come now; He might have a screwdriver, but I doubt it. twyfel يَشُكُّ съмнявам се pochybovat tvivle på bezweifeln αμφιβάλλω dudar kahtlema شک داشتن epäillä douter (que/de) לְהָטִיל סָפֶק संदेह करना sumnjati, dvojiti kételkedik vmiben ragu-ragu efa, efast um dubitare 疑う 의심하다 abejoti šaubīties keraguan betwijfelen tvile på, (be)tvile wątpić duvidar a se îndoi сомневаться pochybovať dvomiti sumnjati betvivla, tvivla på ไม่แน่ใจ kuşku duymak, şüphe etmek, sanmamak 懷疑 сумніватися; вагатися تردد میں ہونا ، اعتبار نہ کرنا nghi ngờ 怀疑

2 not to be sure of the reliability of Sometimes I doubt your intelligence! bevraagteken يُشَكِّكُ في не съм сигурен mít pochybnosti tvivle på bezweifeln αμφισβητώ dudar de kahtlema تردید داشتن epäillä avoir des doutes sur לְהָטִיל סָפֶק अविश्वास nemati vjere kétségbe von (vmit) meragukan efast um avere dubbi su 疑う 확신하지 못하다 abejoti apšaubīt kesangsian twijfelen aan tvile på, ha sine tvil wątpić w duvidar a se îndoi de сомневаться mať pochybnosti (o) dvomiti (o čem) sumnjati tvivla på คลางแคลงใจ kuşku duymak, şüphe etmek 拿不準 бути невпевненим; не довіряти کسی چیز کی صداقت پر یقین نہ کرنا hoài nghi 拿不准

n

a feeling of not being sure and sometimes of being suspicious There is some doubt as to what happened; I have doubts about that place. twyfel, bedenking شَك، إرْتِياب، تَشَكُّك съмнение pochybnost, nejistota tvivl der Zweifel αμφιβολία duda kahtlus شک؛ تردید epäily, epäilys doute סָפֶק संदेह sumnja kétség curiga efi, vafi, vafamál dubbio 疑い 의심, 불확신 abejonė šaubas kesangsian twijfel tvil, usikkerhet, frykt wątpliwość dúvida îndoială, dubiu сомнение pochybnosť dvom sumnja tvivel, tveksamhet ความสงสัย kuşku, şüphe 懷疑 сумнів شک sự ngờ vực 怀疑

adj doubtful

1 feeling doubt; uncertain what to think, expect etc He is doubtful about the future of the school. twyfelagtig مُتَشَكِّك، مُرْتاب колеблив nejistý, pochybovačný tvivle på; uvis in Zweifel αβέβαιος dudoso kahtlev مشکوک؛ مردد epävarma incertain מוּטָל בְּסָפֶק संदिग्ध, अविश्वासी sumnjiv kétséges meragukan óviss, efagjarn dubbioso, incerto 疑わしい 의심스러워하는 abejojantis, skeptiškas kaut ko apšaubīt ragu-ragu twijfelachtig tvilende, uviss, usikker sceptyczny duvidoso plin de îndoieli сомневающийся neistý negotov sumnjičav tveksam, osäker สงสัย kuşkulu, şüpheli, emin değil 懷疑的 той, що сумнівається; той, що вагається مذبذب nghi ngại 怀疑的

2 able to be doubted; not clear The outcome is doubtful; a doubtful result. twyfelagtige مَشْكوكٌ فيه неясен pochybný; nejasný tvivlsom; uvis fraglich αμφίβολος, αμφισβητήσιμος dudoso, incierto kahtlane مبهم epäselvä incertain, indécis בְּסָפֶק अनिश्चित upitan kétes tidak jelas vafasamur incerto はっきりしない 의심스러운, 불확실한 abejotinas šaubīgs; apšaubāms tidak jelas twijfelachtig tvilsom, uviss, uklar wątpliwy duvidoso incert, indecis сомнительный nejasný dvomljiv neizvestan tvivelaktig น่าสงสัย şüpheli, belirsiz 可疑的 сумнівний شک کے قابل đáng ngờ 可疑的

3 uncertain but rather unlikely, unhopeful etc It is doubtful whether this will work; a doubtful improvement. bedenklike غَيْر مُؤَكَّد несигурен nejistý, neurčitý, pochybný usikker; tvivlsom zweifelhaft αμφισβητήσιμος dudoso, poco probable küsitav مورد تردید؛ غیر قطعی kyseenalainen douteux מוּטָל בְּסָפֶק संदेहास्पद nesiguran bizonytalan meragukan vafasamur incerto おぼつかない 불확실한 abejotinas neskaidrs; apšaubāms meragukan twijfelachtig tvilsom wątpliwy duvidoso îndoielnic сомнительный podozrivý vprašljiv neizvestan tveksam, oviss ไม่แน่ใจ olası değil, ihtimal dışı 難料的 неясний; непевний غیر یقینی không chắc chắn 难料的

4 suspicious He's rather a doubtful character. twyfelagtige مُتَشَكِّك، كَثيرُ الأرْتِياب съмнителен pochybný tvivlsom zweifelhaft ύποπτος dudoso, sospechoso umbusklik بد گمان؛ شکاک epäluuloinen louche מְפוּקפָּק संदिग्ध sumnjivog karaktera gyanús mencurigakan grunsamlegur ambiguo, equivoco いかがわしい 의심스러운, 믿을 수 없는 įtartinas, abejotinas šaubīgs; aizdomīgs mencurigakan twijfelachtig tvilsom, problematisk podejrzany suspeito bănuitor, suspicios подозрительный pochybný sumljiv sumnjičav tvivelaktig น่าสงสัย şüpheli, kuşku yaratan 使人生疑的 підозрілий غیر معتبر khả nghi 使人生疑的

adv doubtfully

twyfelagtige بشَكٍّ، بِتَشَكُّك، بِصورَةٍ مَشْكوكٌ فيها съмнително nejistě, pochybně tvivlsomt; uvis fraglich αμφίβολα dudosamente kahtlevalt با شک و تردید epäilevästi d'une manière douteuse בְסָפֶק सन्देहपूर्वक sumnjivo két(el)kedve, bizonytalanul penuh keraguan á vafasaman hátt in modo dubbioso 疑って 의심스러운 듯, 못 미더워 abejotinai, abejojamai šaubīgi; apšaubāmi dengan ragu-ragu twijfelachtig tvilsomt, uvisst wątpliwie duvidosamente cu îndoială сомнительно neisto negotovo; dvomljivo sumnjičavo tveksamt, tvivelaktigt อย่างสงสัย kuşkuyla, tereddütle 可疑地 підозріло; непевно غیر یقینی طور پر một cách đầy hoài nghi 可疑地

n doubtfulness

twyfel, bedenking شَكٌّ، تَشَكُّكٌ съмнителност nejistota, pochybnost uvished die Fragwürdigkeit αβεβαιότητα incertidumbre ebakindlus تردید epävarmuus, epäluuloisuus incertitude סַפקָנוּת सन्देह sumnjičavost bizonytalanság, kétértelműség keraguan óvissa, efi dubbiosità, incertezza 疑わしさ 의심스러움 abejojimas šaubīgums keraguan twijfelachtigheid uvisshet powątpiewanie dubiedade incertitudine сомнительность neistota negotovost sumnjičavost tveksamhet, tvivelaktighet ความสงสัย kuşku, tereddüt 懷疑 невизначеність; нерішучість غیر یقینی کیفیت sự hoài nghi 怀疑

adv doubtless

probably John has doubtless told you about me. ongetwyfeld دونَ شَك، بلا رَيْب несъмнено bezpochyby utvivlsomt; uden tvivl zweifellos αναμφίβολα sin duda, seguramente arvatavasti احتمالاً epäilemättä sans aucun doute לְלֹא סָפֶק निस्‍सन्देह nedvojbeno, bez sumnje kétségtelenül mungkin vafalaust, áreiðanlega; sennilega indubbiamente きっと 아마, 필시 tikriausiai, greičiausiai bez šaubām; neapšaubāmi mungkin ongetwijfeld utvilsomt niewątpliwie sem dúvida fără îndoială несомненно bezpochyby nedvomno nesumnjivo utan tvivel อย่างไม่มีข้อสงสัย kuşkusuz, şüphesiz, herhalde 很可能 безперечно, безсумнівно بلا شبہ hầu như chắc chắn 很可能

beyond doubt

certain(ly) Beyond doubt, they will arrive tomorrow; His honesty is beyond doubt. ongetwyfeld بِدون أي شَك، أبْعَد من أي شَك، بالتَّأْكيد със сигурност nepochybně, nade vší pochybnost uden for al tvivl; hævet over enhver tvivl zweifellos αναμφίβολα sin duda alguna, fuera de toda duda kahtlemata, väljaspool kahtlust بی شک؛ مطمئناً epäilyksettä, epäilyksen ulkopuolella indubitable; indubitablement מִעֶבֶר לְכל סָפֶק निस्‍सन्देह iznad sumnje kétségkívül pasti efalaust, engum vafa undirorpið fuor di dubbio 疑いなく 틀림없이, 받드시 be abejonės neapšaubāmi pasti boven iedere twijfel verheven hevet over tvil bez żadnej wątpliwości fora de dúvida dincolo de orice îndoială вне (всяких) сомнений bezpochyby brez dvoma; nesporen van svake sumnje bortom (höjd över) allt tvivel แน่นอน kuşku götürmez 無疑地 безсумнівно یقینا chắc chắn 无疑地

in doubt

uncertain The result of the dispute is still in doubt. onseker مَشْكوكٌ فيهِ несигурен na vážkách, na pochybách usikkert zweifelhaft αβέβαιος incierto ebakindel مورد تردید؛ نامعلوم epävarma indécis מוּטָל בְּסָפֶק अनश्चिय biti u sumnji, biti nesiguran bizonytalanságban tidak pasti óviss, vafasamur in dubbio, incerto 不確かな 불확실한 abejotinas, neaiškus neskaidrs; apšaubāms tak pasti in onzekerheid i tvil, ennå uvisst wątpliwy, niepewny incerto indecis не ясен na vážkach negotov pod sumnjom oviss, osäker ไม่แน่นอน şüpheli, belirsiz 拿不準地 точно не відомий; непевний غیر یقینی không chắc chắn 拿不准地

no doubt

surely; probably No doubt you would like to see your bedroom; He will come back again tomorrow, no doubt. ongetwyfeld لا شَكَّ، بالتَّأْكيد، بِدون شَك сигурно bezpochyby, rozhodně uden tvivl; helt sikkert zweifellos σίγουρα, πιθανότατα sin duda, seguramente kahtlemata بی شک varmasti sans doute לְלֹא סָפֶק निस्‍सन्देह bez sumnje kétségkívül tentunya áreiðanlega, eflaust senza dubbio きっと 확실히, 아마 be abejonės, tikriausiai bez šaubām pasti ongetwijfeld uten tvil, utvilsomt bez wątpienia de certeza fără îndoială без сомнения bezpochyby; pravdepodobne gotovo bez sumnje utan tvivel, förstås, väl แน่นอน; บางที herhâlde, sanırım 無疑地 безсумнівно; неодмінно یقینا chắc chắn 无疑地