doubt
the state of being unsure of something
How often you will meet it
Rank 403 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 49,619 times across 155,168 chapters — 0.024% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- the state of being unsure of something also: uncertainty, incertitude, dubiety, doubtfulness, dubiousness
- uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something also: dubiousness, doubtfulness, question the dubiousness of his claimthere is no question about the validity of the enterprise
verb
- consider unlikely or have doubts about I doubt that she will accept his proposal of marriage
- lack confidence in or have doubts about I doubt these reportsI suspect her true motives
doubt in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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No doubt the fellow was very useful to her.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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Fare you well; We shall find time, I doubt not, to repeal Your banishment.
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1
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He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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It is a sad thing to think of, but there is no doubt that genius lasts longer than beauty.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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The harmless creature at these words, turned himself from me, and I make no doubt got safe to land.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1