doubt

doubt

noun

/daʊt/

a feeling of doubt and uncertainty

New evidence has cast doubt on the guilt of the man jailed for the crime.

He was starting to have some serious doubts.

to have lingering/grave/nagging doubts

doubt about something

The article raised doubts about how effective the new drug really was.

There is some doubt about the best way to do it.

doubt (that)…

There is no doubt at all that we did the right thing.

There's little doubt in my mind that he's going to go right to the top.

doubt as to something

She leaves no doubt as to her own view of Picasso's work.

doubt as to who, what, etc…

If you are in any doubt as to whether you should be doing these exercises, consult your doctor.

doubt over something

Medical experts have expressed doubt over how the scientist died.

She knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was lying to her.

Collocations

adjective

verb + doubt

doubt + verb

preposition

beyond doubtbeyond a doubt

beyond all doubt…

phrases

beyond a shadow of (a) doubt

without a shadow of (a) doubt

have your doubts about something…

Idioms

doubt

/daʊt/

1 to feel uncertain about something; to feel that something is not true, will probably not happen, etc.

doubt something

There seems no reason to doubt her story.

to doubt the sincerity/wisdom/existence of something

‘Do you think England will win?’—‘I doubt it.’

doubt (that)…

I never doubted (that) she would come.

She seriously doubted he would still be waiting for her.

doubt whether, if, etc…

I doubt whether the new one will be any better.

I had no reason to doubt him.

Collocations

adverb

phrases

not doubt something for a moment, second, etc.

Word Origin

Middle English: from Old French doute (noun), douter (verb), from Latin dubitare ‘hesitate’, from dubius ‘doubtful’.

e.g.

I doubt if it there any longer. それがまだそこにあるかどうかは疑わしい。