INDEX:
1. when you think something is unlikely to happen or be true
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY
not believe someone or something : ↑ BELIEVE
see also
↑ SURE/NOT SURE
↑ UNCERTAIN
↑ DISAGREE
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1. when you think something is unlikely to happen or be true
▷ don’t think /ˌdəʊnt ˈθɪŋk/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
don’t think (that)
▪ At first I didn’t think that Jim was going to reply.
▪ I don’t think many people will come to the meeting, do you?
don’t think so
▪ ‘Do we have any coffee left?’ ‘I don’t think so -- I’ll have a look.’
▪ ‘Is Mr Brown there?’ ‘No, I don’t think so, I saw him go out earlier.’
▷ doubt /daʊt/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to think that something will probably not happen or is probably not true :
doubt if/whether
▪ We’d better go to the party, but I doubt if it’ll be very exciting.
▪ I doubt whether I’ll be able to find a decent car for the price I can afford.
doubt (that)
▪ Some people doubted that the attacks on the American ships had actually taken place.
very much doubt/doubt very much
▪ I very much doubt whether we’ll get someone for the job by September.
seriously doubt
▪ At the time we seriously doubted that the doctor had got the diagnosis right.
doubt it
▪ It was possible that Maggie had been delayed, but he doubted it.
▷ be doubtful /biː ˈdaʊtf ə l/ [verb phrase]
if you are doubtful about something, you do not believe that it will happen or should be done :
▪ Mick felt optimistic about going to work in Hong Kong, but Sue was doubtful.
▪ My brother looked doubtful when I asked him if he’d mind looking after the baby.
be doubtful about
▪ A lot of us felt doubtful about the project at the beginning.
be doubtful (that)
▪ The doctor said she was doubtful that antibiotics would work.
it is doubtful whether/that/if
▪ It is doubtful that life could survive under such extreme conditions as these.
▷ be dubious /biː ˈdjuːbiəsǁ-ˈduː-/ [verb phrase]
if you are dubious about something, you do not think it is a good idea or that it is true :
▪ ‘Do you think they’ll let us in?’ Gabby looked dubious.
be dubious about
▪ Marian is still dubious about whether any of the government’s ‘solutions’ will work.
▷ I’d be surprised if /aɪd biː səʳˈpraɪzd ɪf/ spoken
say this when you think something is very unlikely to happen or is very unlikely to be true :
▪ I’d be surprised if they get here in time for the show.
▪ I’d be very surprised if Ronnie got the job -- he just doesn’t have enough experience.
▷ I wouldn’t have thought /aɪ ˌwʊdnt əv ˈθɔːt/ spoken
say this when you think that something is unlikely to happen or be true, especially when you are not completely sure that you are right :
I wouldn’t have thought (that)
▪ I wouldn’t have thought that there would be much traffic on a Sunday morning.
I wouldn’t have thought so
▪ ‘Will John and Carmen be coming tonight?’ ‘I wouldn’t have thought so. They’re very busy at the moment.’
▷ I’m not sure (about that) /aɪm nɒt ˈʃʊər (əbaʊt ˌðæt)/ spoken
use this in order to say politely that you think what someone has said is unlikely :
▪ ‘I think Kate and Eddie will end up getting married.’ ‘Really? I’m not sure about that.’