English Reference

Word

doubting

Phoneticsdoubt·ing, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈdaʊtɪŋ/

UK/dˈaʊtɪŋ/

Definition

adj. feeling unsure if something is true or if someone is telling the truth. You use this when you have a lack of belief in something.

adj. characterised by a lack of conviction or a state of uncertainty regarding the truth or reliability of something. Often used predicatively after linking verbs or attributively to describe a person's expression.

Examples

“She gave him a doubting look when he explained his excuse.”

“Even after seeing the evidence, several doubting members of the committee refused to sign the final report.”

“The scientist remained doubting of the new data until the experiment could be replicated by an independent laboratory under stricter controls.”

Examples

simple

“She gave him a doubting look when he explained his excuse.”

contextual

“Even after seeing the evidence, several doubting members of the committee refused to sign the final report.”

complex

“The scientist remained doubting of the new data until the experiment could be replicated by an independent laboratory under stricter controls.”

Usage

Often appears in the phrase 'doubting Thomas' to describe a skeptical person. When used as a participial adjective, it frequently modifies nouns like 'look', 'smile', or 'voice'.

Real-World Examples

“But there was no doubting who the leader of the gang was.”
The Guardian 23 Sept 2026

Word family

NOUN

ADJECTIVE

doubting(B2)

ADVERB

Idioms

01. doubting Thomas

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference