doubt

Word family  noun doubt doubter adjective doubtful doubtless indubitable undoubted verb doubt adverb doubtfully indubitably undoubtedly

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++doubt1 /daʊt/ ●●● S1 W1 noun  1  UNCERTAIN FEELING[countable, uncountable]NOT SURE a feeling of being not sure whether something is true or right 不确定，怀疑doubt about The incident raises doubts about the safety of nuclear power. 这一事故让人对核动力的安全性产生了怀疑。doubt as to Some government ministers had serious doubts as to whether the policy would work. 一些政府部长对此项政策是否能起作用有很大的疑问。 There was still one little nagging doubt at the back of his mind. 他的心头仍有一丝挥之不去的疑虑。 There’s no doubt that he was a major artist. 毫无疑问他是个大艺术家。2  no doubt TRUEused when you are saying that you think something is probably true 无疑，很可能 No doubt you’ll have your own ideas. 当然，你会有自己的想法。 She was a top student, no doubt about it (=it is certainly true). 她是一个优秀的学生，这是毫无疑问的。3  if/when (you’re) in doubt ADVISEused when advising someone what to do if they are uncertain about something 如（你）无把握，如（你）有怀疑〔用于建议〕 If in doubt, consult your doctor. 如有疑问，咨询医生。4  be in doubt UNCERTAINif something is in doubt, it may not happen, continue, exist, or be true 不肯定，没把握 The future of the peace talks is in doubt. 和谈前途未卜。5  beyond doubt CERTAINLY/DEFINITELYif something is beyond doubt, it is completely certain 确实，确凿，无疑 The prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the crime. 控方必须确凿无疑地证明被告有罪。put the game/result/match beyond doubt (=do something which makes it certain that a particular player or team will win a match) 使竞赛分出胜负/确定结果/给比赛定胜负 Ferdinand’s second goal put the game beyond doubt. 费迪南德的第二个进球决定了比赛的胜负。6  without doubt EMPHASIZEused to emphasize an opinion 确实，的确〔用于强调某个观点〕 Jo is without doubt one of the finest swimmers in the school. 乔毫无疑问是学校最优秀的游泳选手之一。7  open to doubt DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT ITsomething that is open to doubt has not been proved to be definitely true or real 有待证明的 The authenticity of the relics is open to doubt. 这些文物的真假有待考证。 → self-doubt, → give somebody/something the benefit of the doubt at benefit1(4) COLLOCATIONSverbshave doubts 有怀疑Scientists still have some doubts about the theory. 科学家们对这一理论仍有疑问。have your doubts (=have some doubts) 有怀疑Everyone else thinks it’s a good idea, but I have my doubts. 其他人都觉得这是个好主意,但我却有所怀疑。have no/little doubt 丝毫不怀疑I have no doubt that you are right. 我毫不怀疑你是正确的。be in no/any doubt about something 对某事没有丝毫怀疑/颇有怀疑The government is in no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. 政府丝毫不怀疑局势的严重性。leave no/little doubt (that) (=make people sure or almost sure about something) 毫无疑问The evidence left no doubt that he was the murderer. 证据毫无疑问地表明他是凶手。cast/throw doubt on something (=make people unsure about something) 使人怀疑某事物Research has cast doubt on the safety of mobile phones. 研究使人们对移动电话的安全性产生了怀疑。raise doubts about something (=make people unsure about something) 引起对某事物的怀疑nHis handling of the matter has raised doubts about his competence.call/throw something into doubt (=make people unsure about something) 使人们对某事物产生怀疑nThe accuracy of his account was called into doubt.express/voice doubts (=say that you have doubts) 表示怀疑nMany people expressed doubts about the necessity of the war.adjectivesserious/grave doubts 深深的怀疑They have some serious doubts as to his honesty. 他们很怀疑他的诚实。considerable doubts 很大的怀疑nI had considerable doubts about accepting the job.a lingering/nagging doubt (=one that does not go away) 挥之不去的疑问nI still had a nagging doubt that there might be something seriously wrong.phrasesthere is no/little/some doubt (=used to talk about how sure people are about something) 没有/几乎没有/有一些怀疑There is little doubt that he will play for England one day. 几乎没有疑问,他终有一天会代表英格兰参赛。without a shadow of a doubt (=without any doubt) 没有一丝疑问I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was going to win. 我确信自己会赢。an element of doubt (=a slight doubt) 一丝怀疑nThere’s an element of doubt about his true age as he doesn’t have a birth certificate.not the slightest doubt (=no doubt) 没有一丝怀疑nThere’s not the slightest doubt in my mind about it.

Examples from the Corpus

doubt• I hope to convince any doubters in the audience that our policies will work.• However, some critics have expressed doubts over whether future governments can be locked into the promises.• He worked to dispel his doubts about his friend as though to pass another test, like his ordeal in the park.• If in doubt, try the front door.• Little doubt what the weight of opinion was there.• It casts more doubt on Wallace's conviction in 1981 of the killing of his friend, antique dealer Jonathan Lewis.• There seems no doubt ever in your minds that the Emperor is more powerful than you are, or Hari Seldon wiser.• Then he thought of Benedicta and felt a twinge of doubt.• There seems to be some doubt as to what warnings were given.• There are still some doubts about her suitability for the job.• Especially in the early thirties, the ideas in the central tradition acted powerfully to breed such doubts.There’s no doubt that• There's no doubt that brushed chrome and quality buttons are preferable to ill-fitting plastic.• There's no doubt that the Conwy Valley line is one of Britain's best known and loved branch lines.• There's no doubt that the ideal size, space and pocket permitting, is a 3' or 4' tank.• There's no doubt that there is a case for saying that Bayfield is too big for front-jumping.• But there's no doubt that using energy efficiently reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.• But there's no doubt that while they're here, these children stand a far better chance of becoming adults.• In practice, there's no doubt that they know what they're doing.doubt2 ●●● S2 verb [transitive not in progressive]  1  DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT ITto think that something may not be true or that it is unlikely 怀疑，不确信 Kim never doubted his story. 金对于他讲的事情从不怀疑。doubt (that) I doubt we’ll ever see him again. 我想我们再也见不到他了。doubt if/whether You can complain, but I doubt if it’ll make any difference. 你可以投诉，但是我看未必有用。 ‘Do you think there’ll be any tickets left?’ ‘I doubt it (=I don’t think so).’ “你认为还会有余票吗？” “我看是没有了。”2  DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT ITto not trust or have confidence in someone 不信任〔某人〕，对〔某人〕没有信心 I never doubted myself. I always knew I could play tennis at this level. 我从来都相信自己，一向都知道我网球能打出这个水平。 She loved him, and had never doubted him. 她爱他，对他从来没有产生过怀疑。 I have no reason to doubt his word (=think that he is lying). 我没有理由不相信他的话。 —doubter noun [countable]n GrammarPatterns with doubt• You doubt whether someone can do something: I doubt whether we can afford a new car.She doubted whether she could trust him again.• You doubt whether something will happen: I doubt whether the plan will work. He doubted whether this would happen. • You can also say doubt if with the same meaning as doubt whether: I doubt if we can afford a new car.I doubt if the plan will work.• You can also say doubt that: I doubt that we can afford a new car.I doubt that the plan will work. ✗Don’t say: doubt aboutUsing the progressiveThe verb doubt is not usually used in the progressive. You say: I doubt he’ll come to the party. ✗Don’t say: I am doubting he’ll come to the party. THESAURUSdoubt to think that something may not be true or that it is unlikely 怀疑,不相信‘Do you think she really is eighteen?’ ‘I doubt it.’ “你觉得她真是18岁吗？” “我怀疑。”There was so much noise that I doubt if anyone slept. 声音那么吵,我怀疑有没有人睡得着。be doubtful/dubious /ˈdjuːbiəs $ ˈduː- / to doubt that something will happen, is true, or is a good idea 不确定Economists are doubtful that the situation will improve this year. 经济学家不能肯定今年形势会好转。‘You can eat the whole fish including the head.’ Janey looked dubious. “你可以把鱼连头整个都吃下去。” 珍妮看上去有些疑惑。nWhen my husband suggested emigrating, I was dubious at first.nMum looked doubtful when I suggested having a party for all my friends.have reservations to feel that a plan or idea may not be good because you think there may be some problems with it 持保留意见Health care professionals had reservations about giving both vaccines together. 医疗保健专业人士对同时注射两种疫苗持保留意见。have misgivings to feel worried about doing something, because it may have a bad result 有疑虑Ralph had serious misgivings about changing his career at the age of 50. 拉尔夫对于50岁改行有很大的顾虑。have mixed feelings to be unsure exactly how you feel about something or someone because there are both good and bad things about them 心情复杂[矛盾]I have very mixed feelings about moving house – it’s exciting but I’ll miss this area. 对于搬家我心情很复杂——搬家是令人兴奋的,但我又会怀念这个地方。have second thoughts to start having doubts about whether a decision you have just made is the right one 〔对先前的决定〕产生怀疑；改变想法I liked the dress in the shop, but when I got it home I had second thoughts. 在商店的时候我喜欢那条连衣裙,可是买回家后,我的想法变了。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

doubt• He wondered how he could ever have doubted her.• In all the years I knew him I never once doubted his story.• We'd better go to the party, but I doubt if it'll be very exciting.• He may be able to do a good job, but I doubt it.• It was possible that Maggie had been delayed, but he doubted it.• No-one can doubt its power to evoke the imagination of millions upon millions of people through the ages and today.• Her sincerity made me doubt my own version of events.• Who could doubt that at this late date?• They doubt that Caravaggio was even homosexual, as is widely believed.• I doubted that I would find one in time.• Still, I could not doubt that my vision had occurred, even though I had no way to verify it.• Some people doubted that the attacks on the American ships had actually taken place.• He doubted that the car was hers because everyone knew she had no money.• At the time we seriously doubted that the doctor had got the diagnosis right.• The Navy never seriously doubted the inquiry's findings.• She says she'll leave him, but I doubt very much that she will.• I doubt whether I'll be able to find a decent car for the price I can afford.• They seriously doubted whether the letter had ever existed.• I very much doubt whether we'll get someone for the job by September.I doubt it• He might show up later, but I doubt it.• And will the plant achieve its quota of employees with disabilities? I doubt it. 2.• I might ask for sand, though I doubt it.• It seemed to go on for a long time, but I doubt it was more than a minute or two.• Maybe next time we shall consign the polls to their proper place alongside the racing tips, but somehow I doubt it.• Was he interested anyway? I doubt it.• Will they? I doubt it.• Would I ever look at nature that way, as something so kind, so fundamentally good? I doubted it.doubt ... word• But in speech, these words are specifically pointed out so that the listener can be in no doubt.• Once the issue is validly raised, the prosecution has the burden of disproving it beyond reasonable doubt.• Here, then, the doubts about precatory words are reasonable doubts whether they clearly express an intention on the part of a testator.• Once you doubt my word, that's it.• I expect you will not doubt my word too?• She doubted the words would even be able to leave her mouth.Origin doubt2 (1200-1300) French douter, from Latin dubitare

doubt1 noun →COLLOCATIONS1doubt2 verb →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChinese  

not feeling is something being of a sure Corpus whether

doubt

I

doubt¹ S1 W1 /daʊt/ noun1. [uncountable and countable] a feeling of being not sure whether something is true or right
    doubt about
    The incident raises doubts about the safety of nuclear power.
    doubt as to
    Some government ministers had serious doubts as to whether the policy would work.
    There was still one little nagging doubt at the back of his mind.
    There’s no doubt that he was a major artist.
2. no doubt used when you are saying that you think something is probably true:
    No doubt you’ll have your own ideas.
    She was a top student, no doubt about it (=it is certainly true).
3. if/when (you’re) in doubt used when advising someone what to do if they are uncertain about something:
    If in doubt, consult your doctor.
4. be in doubt if something is in doubt, it may not happen, continue, exist, or be true:
    The future of the peace talks is in doubt.
5. beyond doubt if something is beyond doubt, it is completely certain:
    The prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the crime.
    put the game/result/match beyond doubt (=do something which makes it certain that a particular player or team will win a match)
    Ferdinand’s second goal put the game beyond doubt.
6. without doubt used to emphasize an opinion:
    Jo is without doubt one of the finest swimmers in the school.
7. open to doubt something that is open to doubt has not been proved to be definitely true or real:
    The authenticity of the relics is open to doubt.
⇨ self-doubt, ⇨ give somebody/something the benefit of the doubt at benefit¹(4)
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ have doubts Scientists still have some doubts about the theory.
   ▪ have your doubts (=have some doubts) Everyone else thinks it’s a good idea, but I have my doubts.
   ▪ have no/little doubt I have no doubt that you are right.
   ▪ be in no/any doubt about something The government is in no doubt about the seriousness of the situation.
   ▪ leave no/little doubt (that) (=make people sure or almost sure about something) The evidence left no doubt that he was the murderer.
   ▪ cast/throw doubt on something (=make people unsure about something) Research has cast doubt on the safety of mobile phones.
   ▪ raise doubts about something (=make people unsure about something) His handling of the matter has raised doubts about his competence.
   ▪ call/throw something into doubt (=make people unsure about something) The accuracy of his account was called into doubt.
   ▪ express/voice doubts (=say that you have doubts) Many people expressed doubts about the necessity of the war.
■ adjectives
   ▪ serious/grave doubts They have some serious doubts as to his honesty.
   ▪ considerable doubts I had considerable doubts about accepting the job.
   ▪ a lingering/nagging doubt (=one that does not go away) I still had a nagging doubt that there might be something seriously wrong.
■ phrases
   ▪ there is no/little/some doubt (=used to talk about how sure people are about something) There is little doubt that he will play for England one day.
   ▪ without a shadow of a doubt (=without any doubt) I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was going to win.
   ▪ an element of doubt (=a slight doubt) There’s an element of doubt about his true age as he doesn’t have a birth certificate.
   ▪ not the slightest doubt (=no doubt) There’s not the slightest doubt in my mind about it.

II

doubt² S2 verb [transitive not in progressive]1. to think that something may not be true or that it is unlikely:
    Kim never doubted his story.
    doubt (that)
    I doubt we’ll ever see him again.
    doubt if/whether
    You can complain, but I doubt if it’ll make any difference.
    ‘Do you think there’ll be any tickets left?’ ‘I doubt it (=I don’t think so).’
2. to not trust or have confidence in someone:
    I never doubted myself. I always knew I could play tennis at this level.
    She loved him, and had never doubted him.
    I have no reason to doubt his word (=think that he is lying).
—doubter noun [countable]
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ doubt to think that something may not be true or that it is unlikely: ‘Do you think she really is eighteen?’ ‘I doubt it.’ | There was so much noise that I doubt if anyone slept.
   ▪ be doubtful/dubious /ˈdjuːbiəs $ ˈduː-/ to doubt that something will happen, is true, or is a good idea: Economists are doubtful that the situation will improve this year. | ‘You can eat the whole fish including the head.’ Janey looked dubious. | When my husband suggested emigrating, I was dubious at first. | Mum looked doubtful when I suggested having a party for all my friends.
   ▪ have reservations to feel that a plan or idea may not be good because you think there may be some problems with it: Health care professionals had reservations about giving both vaccines together.
   ▪ have misgivings to feel worried about doing something, because it may have a bad result: Ralph had serious misgivings about changing his career at the age of 50.
   ▪ have mixed feelings to be unsure exactly how you feel about something or someone because there are both good and bad things about them: I have very mixed feelings about moving house – it’s exciting but I’ll miss this area.
   ▪ have second thoughts to start having doubts about whether a decision you have just made is the right one: I liked the dress in the shop, but when I got it home I had second thoughts.