Doubt

/daʊt/ · verb

Meaning

(ambitransitive) To be undecided about; to lack confidence in; to disbelieve, to question..

Definitions by Sense

1. (ambitransitive) To be undecided about; to lack confidence in; to disbelieve, to question.
2. (transitive, archaic outside Scotland) To harbour suspicion about; suspect.
3. (transitive, archaic) To anticipate with dread or fear; to apprehend.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To fill with fear; to affright.
5. (ambitransitive, obsolete) To dread, to fear.
6. (uncountable, countable) Disbelief or uncertainty (about something); (countable) a particular instance of such disbelief or uncertainty.
7. (countable, obsolete outside of India) A point of uncertainty, especially a yes/no or a multiple-choice question
8. (non-native speakers' English, countable) a question (that one has)

Example Sentences

He doubted that was really what you meant.

I had no wish to go, though I doubt if they would have noticed me even if I had.

Ther be but two wayes onely. The one whiche by followyng the affections ledeth to perdicion. The other whyche throughe the mortifyenge of the fleſhe: ledeth to lyfe, why doubteſt thou in thy ſelf: There is no thyrde way.

For they be not termed Eclogues, but Æglogues, vvhich ſentence this authour very vvell obſeruing, vpon good iudgement, though indeede fevv Goteheards haue to doe herein, netheleſſe doubteth not to cal thẽ by the vſed and beſt knovven name.

And as for that faith, vvhich is vvithout vvorkes, and yet ſeemeth to thes men to be ſufficient for their ſaluation; he proteſteth, that it is ſo vnprofitable, as he doubteth not to ſaye of hymſelf; [...]

For never (I thinke) was there any woman, that with more unremovable determinatiõ gave her selfe to the coũcell of Love, after she had once set before her mind the worthines of your cousin Amphialus; & yet is nether her wisdome doubted of, nor honour blemished.

Now it is not required nor can be exacted at our hands, that we ſhould yeeld vnto any thing other aſſent, then ſuch as doth anſwer the euidence which is to be had of that wee aſſent to. For which cauſe euen in matters diuine, concerning ſome things we may lawfully doubt and ſuſpend our iudgement, inclining neyther to one ſide or other, [...]

He that will enter in muſt firſt without / Stand knocking at the Gate, nor need he doubt / That is a knocker but to enter in; / For God can love him, and forgive his ſin.

Synonyms for doubt

Antonyms for doubt

Related Words

Word Forms

• doubts
• doubting
• doubted
• dout

Usage Notes

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