ENGLISH
REFERENCE

doubling

n.
US //ˈdəbəɫɪŋ// UK //dˈʌblɪŋ// dou·bling
  1. 1 multiplying by two (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Math

    the process of making something twice as large or twice as many.

    the process or instance of increasing a quantity by a factor of two.

    Example

    The doubling of the company's profits in just one year surprised the investors.

    Example

    Economists observed a rapid doubling of the national debt over the decade, prompting urgent calls for fiscal reform.
    • halving
  2. 2 turning back (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    the act of turning around and going back the way you came.

    the act of reversing one's course or turning back on one's own tracks.

    Example

    The fox escaped the hunters by a clever doubling back through the thick woods.

    Example

    The path required a sharp doubling back at the cliff edge, which confused the hikers who were unfamiliar with the local terrain.
  3. 3 a trick (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    a clever or dishonest trick used to deceive someone.

    a deceptive manoeuvre or trick; an instance of double-dealing.

    Example

    The old stories tell of the villain's doubling and lies to steal the gold.

    Example

    The protagonist eventually saw through the antagonist's doublings, realising that every promise made was merely a layer of a larger deception.

Last updated June 20, 2026