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doubt

n. · v.
US //ˈdaʊt// UK //dˈaʊt// doubt
  1. 1 uncertainty (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the feeling of being unsure if something is true or if it will happen.

    a state of uncertainty or lack of conviction. Often used uncountably to describe a general feeling or countably to refer to specific concerns.

    Example

    There is no doubt that the weather is getting warmer every year.

    Example

    Despite the initial success of the pilot program, some lingering doubt remained among the board members regarding long-term financial sustainability.
    Pitfall
    I have a doubt that he will come.
    I doubt that he will come.

    In English, we usually use the verb 'doubt' for specific predictions. 'I have a doubt' sounds like you have a question about a fact.

  2. 2 to be unsure (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to feel unsure about something or to think that something might not be true.

    to lack confidence in or to be inclined to disbelieve a proposition or person. Usually transitive, taking a direct object or a 'that' clause.

    Example

    I doubt that we will finish the project by tomorrow morning.

    Example

    Economists doubt whether the current growth rate can be maintained without significant structural reforms to the labor market.
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  1. 3 to suspect (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to think that something bad might be true, even if you are not sure.

    to harbor a suspicion or to suspect that a negative condition exists. This usage is slightly more formal and often implies a sense of caution.

    Example

    The doctor began to doubt that the patient had a more serious infection.

    Example

    The investigators began to doubt a connection between the two incidents, though they lacked the evidence to prove a conspiracy.
Origin

Etymology tree Latin dubō Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō Latin -itō Latin dubitō Old French doterbor. Middle English douten ▲ Old French doter Old French doutebor. Middle English doute ▲ English dubiousinflu. ▲ Latin dubitōinflu. English doubt The verb is derived from Middle English douten (“to doubt, fear, worry”) [and other forms], from Old French douter, doter, duter (compare Middle French doubter), from Latin dubitāre (“to be uncertain, doubt; to hesitate, waver in coming to an opinion; to consider, ponder”); the further etymology is uncertain, but one theory is that dubitō may be derived from dubius (“fluctuating, wavering; doubtful, dubious, uncertain”), from duhibius (“held as two”), from duo (“two”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ (“two”)) + habeō (“to have, hold”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- (“to grab, take”)). Spelling reformers of the early modern period added the letter b to reflect the Latin root dubitō, but it has never been pronounced in English. The noun is derived from Middle English dout, doute (“uncertainty, hesitation; questionable point; anxiety, fear, reverence”) [and other forms], from Old French doute, dote, dute (“uncertain feeling, doubt”), from doter, douter, duter (“to doubt, fear”) (compare Middle French doubter; modern French douter (“to doubt, suspect”)); see further etymology above. Displaced Old English twēo (“doubt”) and twēoġan (“to doubt”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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