doubt
A person who has a doubt or doubts is not sure if something is true, accurate, or correct. You can use “doubt” as a noun or as a verb.
- I doubt that’s true. (verb)
- Helen doubts she’ll be in school tomorrow. (verb)
- That is, without a doubt, the dumbest think I have ever heard. (noun)
It’s important to note the presence of a silent “b” in this word.
a. use "doubt" as a noun
You can use “doubt” as a count noun or as a noncount noun. A person who has doubt is not sure or not certain about a situation.
- I have some doubts. (count noun)
- There’s some doubt about that. (noncount noun)
- There’s not much doubt about that. (This is true.)
- She’s living with a lot of doubt right now. (She’s uncertain about many things.)
- There’s no doubt that this is true.
- Winston is plagued by a lot of doubt these days.
a. use "doubt" as a noun
- I always feel a little bit of doubt about whether or not a plane can get off of the ground and fly into the air.
- I know this is a silly doubt, but I’m not the only one that feels this way.
- He has some doubts about how things are going at work.
b. use "doubt" as a verb
A person who doubts something or someone does not believe in its truth or capabilites.
- I doubt that is true. (I think it’s untrue.)
- I don’t doubt that is true. (I think it’s true.)
- Edgar doubts that he will find a job soon.
- When the economy began to sour, people started to doubt their choice for President.
- I never doubted you. (I always believed in you.)
b. use "doubt" as a verb
- I doubt I can eat just one of these donuts.
- The teacher doubts the student is doing his own work.
c. use "doubtful" as an adjective
By adding an “ful” suffix to “doubt,” you create the adjective “doubtful.” A person who is doubtful is skeptical or lacks confidence in a situation or a person.
- I feel a little doubtful about this.
- Larissa is feeling doubtful about her chances of getting the job for which she interviewed.
- The student said he did he own work without any help from ChatGPT, but the teacher remains doubtful.
c. use "doubtful" as an adjective
- She’s doubtful that her boyfriend is telling her the truth.
- She feels doubtful.