doubtful

Word family

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++doubt·ful /ˈdaʊtfəl/ adjective 1 DON'T THINK SO/DOUBT ITprobably not true or not likely to happen 不确定的，未必发生的 Prospects for a lasting peace remain doubtful. 持久和平的前景难料。it is doubtful if/whether It was doubtful whether the patient would survive the operation. 病人能否挺过这次手术还无法确定。it is doubtful that It is doubtful that the missing airmen will ever be found. 失踪的空军士兵能否找到还很难说。2 NOT SUREnot sure that something is true or right 有疑问的，感到怀疑的 ‘Everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see.’ Jenny looked doubtful. “一切都会顺顺当当的，你等着看好了。” 珍妮看起来不大相信的样子。doubtful if/whether I’m still doubtful whether I should accept this job. 我仍在犹豫要不要接受这份工作。doubtful about (doing) something At first we were doubtful about employing Charlie. 起初我们犹豫要不要聘用查利。3 unlikely to be successful 不大可能成功的 Already the whole scheme was looking increasingly doubtful. 整个计划成功的可能性看起来已经越来越小了。4 UNCERTAINprobably not good 靠不住的，有问题的 SYN dubious Here the tap water is of doubtful quality. 这里的自来水水质有问题。 —doubtfully adverb

Examples from the Corpus

doubtful• Most local NGOs are dependent on donor funds; their sustainability without such funds is doubtful.• I could see that Holmes still looked doubtful.• But the result confirmed that building society provisions will rocket this year to cover bad and doubtful home loans.• Doblado accepted the doubtful honor of organizing the fund-raiser.• It means more doubtful inward investment.• The general expressed his concern about the number of citizens with doubtful loyalties.• He saw they were doubtful now that this had been a serious meeting.• "Is Maddy coming tonight?" "It's looking doubtful - she was really sick."• Though it was doubtful that Fen's company was any less disturbing.• It's doubtful that we'll finish this tonight.• It is doubtful whether the diners actually find these offerings delicious.• And, of course, it was doubtful whether the girl would back him up.it is doubtful that• Cases were ascertained from multiple sources, and it is doubtful that any were missed, although we can not be certain.• Even in that case, though, it is doubtful that Black could have obtained serious winning prospects.• This not withstanding, it is doubtful that pit culture is on the brink of extinction.• In the case of the database project, it is doubtful that the machine-readable data would be of any use whatsoever.• Once on the strip, it is doubtful that the sort of support equipment it is used to will be found there.• If indeed they were prehistoric, it is doubtful that they crossed the open downland after the later Bronze Age.• It is doubtful that voters will approve the bill.doubtful about (doing) something• Mr. Curry I am somewhat doubtful about a concrete policy for hedgerows.• You have been doubtful about all of this new physics, Watson.• When he heard this, Oliver felt rather doubtful about having such a friend.• With Lord Jim and Grace both on his books, Pinkie felt doubtful about his chance of selling either.• There was nothing doubtful about Mrs Whosis downstairs, except her natural curiosity.• If you are at all doubtful about the success of the evening, do not advertise the event outside your Law Society.• You couldn't have expected it, he had been doubtful about this day from the beginning.

doubt·ful adjectiveChineseSyllable

to not probably likely not true or Corpus

doubtful
doubt‧ful /ˈdaʊtfəl/