DOUBT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does doubt mean? 

• DOUBT (noun)
  The noun DOUBT has 2 senses:

1. the state of being unsure of something

2. uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something

  Familiarity information: DOUBT used as a noun is rare.

• DOUBT (verb)
  The verb DOUBT has 2 senses:

1. consider unlikely or have doubts about

2. lack confidence in or have doubts about

  Familiarity information: DOUBT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DOUBT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The state of being unsure of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

doubt; doubtfulness; dubiety; dubiousness; incertitude; uncertainty

Hypernyms ("doubt" is a kind of...):

cognitive state; state of mind (the state of a person's cognitive processes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "doubt"):

arriere pensee; mental reservation; reservation (an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly)

distrust; misgiving; mistrust; suspicion (doubt about someone's honesty)

disbelief; incredulity; mental rejection; skepticism (doubt about the truth of something)

indecision; indecisiveness; irresolution (doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action)

peradventure (doubt or uncertainty as to whether something is the case)

suspense (an uncertain cognitive state)

Derivation:

doubt (consider unlikely or have doubts about)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

doubt; doubtfulness; dubiousness; question

Context example:

there is no question about the validity of the enterprise

Hypernyms ("doubt" is a kind of...):

precariousness; uncertainness; uncertainty (being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance)

Derivation:

doubt (lack confidence in or have doubts about)

• DOUBT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they doubt    ... he / she / it doubts   
Past simple: doubted   
Past participle: doubted   
-ing form: doubting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Consider unlikely or have doubts about

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

I doubt that she will accept his proposal of marriage

Hypernyms (to "doubt" is one way to...):

disbelieve; discredit (reject as false; refuse to accept)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence examples:

They doubt that there was a traffic accident
They doubt whether there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

doubt (the state of being unsure of something)

doubter (someone who is doubtful or noncommittal about something)

doubter (someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lack confidence in or have doubts about

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

she distrusts her stepmother

Hypernyms (to "doubt" is one way to...):

distrust; mistrust; suspect (regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

doubt (uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something)

 Context examples 

And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Still Ivan doubted, and ordered two of his Slavonian hunters to go up alone.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I had no doubt but that I should come through somehow.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

There could be no doubt of the fact.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No doubt many feet have been here since Monday night.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You may sleep without doubt. Strange and terrible as it is, it is true! I will pledge my life on it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

"The good and dear people always do die," groaned Jo, but she stopped crying, for her friend's words cheered her up in spite of her own doubts and fears.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"There can be no doubt of that," said Summerlee, grimly, "for one has just disappeared behind your shirt-collar."

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Ain't the slightest doubt in the world," was Henry's response.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I said I had no doubt that Mr. Peggotty well deserved these treasures.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)