DOUBT


Meaning of DOUBT in English

I

n.

1) to raise (a) ~ (her proposal raised serious ~s in my mind)

2) to cast ~ on

3) to feel ~; to entertain, harbor ~s about

4) to express, voice (a) ~

5) to dispel, resolve a ~

6) a deep, serious, strong; gnawing; lingering; reasonable; slight ~

7) ~s appear, arise

8) a ~ about, of

9) a ~ that + clause (he expressed serious ~ that he could finish the job on time)

10) beyond (a shadow of) a ~; without a ~

11) in ~ (the result was never in serious ~)

12) ( misc. ) to give smb. the benefit of the ~; ( colloq. ) there is no ~ about it: she's the best

USAGE NOTE: Some purists recommend that whether or the more informal if be used with the noun ~ , especially in the meaning 'uncertainty'

--she expressed ~ (about/as to) whether they would finish on time ('she was not certain whether they would finish on time').

In the meaning of 'disbelief', the conjunction that is common

--she expressed ~ that they would finish on time ('she did not believe that they would finish on time').

Note that in interrogative sentences the use of that prevails

--is there any ~ that they will finish on time?

In negative sentences the conjunction that must be used

-- there is no ~ that they will finish on time.

II

v.

1) to ~ strongly, very much

2) ( L ) I ~ that (if, whether) she will want to participate

USAGE NOTE: see the Usage Note for ~ I. Thus, to express 'uncertainty', one can say - she ~ed whether they would finish on time.

To express 'disbelief, one can say - she ~ed that they would finish on time.

In negative sentences, only that is used - she doesn't ~ that they will finish on time.

The Bbi combinatory dictionary of English, a guide to word combinations.      Комбинаторный словарь английского языка Bbi. Руководство по словосочетаниям.