# doubtless

/ˈdaʊtɫəs/ (US) · /dˈaʊtləs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doubtless
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

without any doubt. You use this to say that something is almost certainly true, even if you cannot prove it yet.

For teachers: used to express that something is very likely or certain to happen or be true. Often used to concede a point before introducing a contrasting idea.

## Examples

- He will doubtless succeed in his new job.
- The new policy will doubtless cause some confusion among the staff during the first few weeks of implementation.
- While the critic acknowledged the film's technical brilliance, he noted that it would doubtless struggle to find a wide audience due to its experimental narrative structure.

## Usage notes

- Sentence adverb — often placed after the first auxiliary verb or at the start of a clause to indicate the speaker's certainty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.