doubt

doubt¹ W1S1 [daut] n

1.) [U and C]

a feeling of being not sure whether something is true or right

▪ Ally was confident that we would be ready on time, but I had my doubts .

doubt about

▪ Elizabeth had no doubts at all about his ability to do the job.

▪ The incident raises doubts about the safety of nuclear power.

▪ The meeting will provide people with an opportunity to voice any doubts they may have about the proposals.

▪ There was still one little nagging doubt at the back of his mind.

doubt as to whether/what etc

▪ Some government ministers had serious doubts as to whether the policy would work.

▪ There is an element of doubt as to whether the deaths were accidental.

▪ There's no doubt that one day a cure will be found.

▪ There is little doubt he was the killer.

▪ She knew, without a shadow of a doubt , that this was where she wanted to be.

▪ The prosecution tried to cast doubt on her character as a witness.

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

▪ Sally was 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 sb/sth the benefit of the doubt at ↑benefit¹ (4)

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COLLOCATES for sense 1

have (your) doubts

have no doubts at all

raise doubts (=make people have doubts)

express/voice doubts (=say that you have doubts)

nagging/lingering doubt (=a doubt that does not go away)

serious/grave doubts

an element of doubt (=a slight doubt)

there is little/some/no doubt (that) (=used to talk about how certain you are about something)

not the slightest doubt (=no doubt at all)

without a shadow of a doubt (=with no doubt at all)

cast/throw doubt on something (=make someone feel uncertain about something)

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doubt ²

doubt² S2 v [T not in progressive]

[Date: 1200-1300; : French; Origin: douter, from Latin dubitare]

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 n