{
    "term": "doubt",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a feeling of being uncertain about something or not believing something",
            "sensetop": "doubt about somethingdoubt (that)…doubt as to somethingdoubt as to who, what, etc…doubt over something",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a feeling of doubt and uncertainty"
                },
                {
                    "text": "New evidence has **cast doubt on** the guilt of the man jailed for the crime."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was starting to **have** some serious **doubts**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to have lingering/grave/nagging doubts"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The article **raised doubts** about how effective the new drug really was.",
                    "contextForm": "doubt about something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is some doubt about the best way to do it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**There is no doubt** at all that we did the right thing.",
                    "contextForm": "doubt (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**There's little doubt** in my mind that he's going to go right to the top."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She **leaves no doubt** as to her own view of Picasso's work.",
                    "contextForm": "doubt as to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "If you are in any doubt as to whether you should be doing these exercises, consult your doctor.",
                    "contextForm": "doubt as to who, what, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Medical experts have **expressed doubt** over how the scientist died.",
                    "contextForm": "doubt over something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She knew **without a shadow of a doubt** that he was lying to her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Whether he will continue to be successful in future is open to doubt."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Doubts have arisen over the viability of the schedule."
                },
                {
                    "text": "From the start, doubts surrounded her claim to be the missing heiress."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He made clear his own private doubts about it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She still felt the same niggling doubt: was he really telling the truth?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I had been aware of a nagging doubt growing in my mind."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some committee members still had doubts about the plans."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The announcement dispelled any doubts as to the prince's intentions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is little doubt the documents are fake."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is no doubt in my mind that this man is Tom."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Some managers have expressed doubts about the wisdom of such a move."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We live in an age of doubt and uncertainty."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["considerable", "grave", "real"],
                "verb + doubt": ["raise", "entertain", "feel"],
                "doubt + verb": ["appear", "arise", "exist"],
                "preposition": ["beyond doubt", "beyond a doubt", "beyond all doubt"],
                "phrases": [
                    "beyond a shadow of (a) doubt",
                    "without a shadow of (a) doubt",
                    "have your doubts about something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be uncertain",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The success of the system is not in doubt."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The arrangements for the event still seemed to be in doubt."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "in a way that shows that something is completely certain",
            "labels": "(law)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The research showed beyond doubt that smoking contributes to heart disease."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The prosecution was able to establish **beyond reasonable doubt** that the woman had been lying."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The evidence proves beyond doubt that he is innocent."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to accept that somebody has told the truth or behaved well because you cannot prove that they have not",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She may have been lying, but I felt I had to give her the benefit of the doubt."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to have reasons why you are not certain about whether something is good or whether something good will happen",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I've had my doubts about his work since he joined the firm."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It may be all right. Personally, I have my doubts."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They say they'll be here on time, but I have my doubts about that."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to give advice to somebody who cannot decide what to do",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "If in doubt, wear black."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If in doubt, consult your doctor."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Suggestions and advice"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used when you are saying that something is likely",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "No doubt she'll call us when she gets there."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used when you are saying that something is certainly true",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He's made some great movies. There's **no doubt about it**."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to make something uncertain",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The proposed development has been thrown into doubt by the decision."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used when you are giving your opinion and emphasizing the point that you are making",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This meeting has been, without doubt, one of the most useful we have had so far."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Without the slightest doubt this is a remarkable exhibition."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She is without a doubt the best player I know."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty", "Opinion and argument"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/daʊt/",
                "audio": "do/doubt/doubt__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/daʊt/",
                "audio": "do/doubt/doubt__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French doute (noun), douter (verb), from Latin dubitare ‘hesitate’, from dubius ‘doubtful’."
}