doubt

/daʊt/ (bre, ipa) · /daʊt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdau̇t/ (ame, mw)

doubt — 名詞

  • doubtsingular
  • doubtsplural

1. a situation where you are not sure if something is true, accurate, or will happe

1.名詞B1
釋義

疑慮；不確定

對某事真實性或正確性不確定的感覺

a situation where you are not sure if something is true, accurate, or will happen as expected

例句

The journalist expressed doubt about the accuracy of the official report.

那位記者對官方報告的準確性表示懷疑。

express doubt about [something]

There is still considerable doubt among climate scientists regarding the rate of sea-level rise.

氣候科學家之間對於海平面上升的速度仍存在相當大的不確定性。

there is doubt among [group] regarding [topic]

同義詞
  • uncertainty

    more general and can be factual; 'doubt' implies personal questioning

  • skepticism

    more intellectual and deliberate; 'doubt' can be more emotional

  • hesitation

    focuses on unwillingness to act; 'doubt' focuses on lack of belief

反義詞

用法筆記

Commonly used in the plural (doubts) when referring to multiple specific uncertainties. Frequently followed by 'about', 'regarding', or 'as to'.

常見錯誤

❌I have doubt about his story.
✅I have doubts about his story.
💡When referring to specific uncertainties, the plural form 'doubts' is more natural.

2. used to express your belief that a statement or prediction is accurate or likely

2.名詞B2
釋義

想必；無疑

確信某事為真或很可能發生的說法

used to express your belief that a statement or prediction is accurate or likely, even when you cannot prove it

例句

No doubt you have already heard the news about the company merger.

想必你已經聽說公司合併的消息了。

No doubt + past perfect — confident assumption

The director will no doubt be satisfied with the final version of the film.

導演想必會對電影的最終版本感到滿意。

will no doubt — confident prediction

同義詞
  • undoubtedly

    stronger and more formal; expresses complete certainty

  • surely

    more subjective; expresses the speaker's own expectation

  • doubtless

    more literary and slightly old-fashioned

文法句型

no doubt + that-clause

no doubt + clause

There is no doubt that…

用法筆記

'No doubt' can express genuine certainty OR a slightly sarcastic or ironic tone depending on context, but the neutral tone is most common for learners. It is softer than 'without doubt' and more tentative than 'undoubtedly'.

常見錯誤

❌No doubt he will come tomorrow.' (when meaning a definite fact)
✅There is no doubt that he will come tomorrow.
💡For factual certainty, use the full 'There is no doubt that…' structure.

3. to make people feel uncertain about the truth, value, or reliability of somethin

3.名詞B2
釋義

質疑；起疑

讓人對某事的真實性或可靠性產生懷疑

to make people feel uncertain about the truth, value, or reliability of something, usually by presenting new information or asking difficult questions

例句

New evidence has cast doubt on the original conclusions of the research paper.

新證據讓人們對那篇研究論文的原始結論產生了懷疑。

cast doubt on [evidence/conclusions]

The accountant's questions threw doubt on the accuracy of the financial records.

會計提出的問題讓人對財務報表的準確性起了疑心。

throw doubt on [accuracy/validity]

同義詞
  • question

    more direct and active; 'cast doubt on' implies causing others to question

  • challenge

    more confrontational; 'cast doubt on' can be more indirect

反義詞
  • confirm

    to establish the truth or correctness of something

  • validate

    to prove that something is based on truth or fact

文法句型

cast doubt on [something]

throw doubt on [something]

raise doubt about [something]

用法筆記

The most common verb partner is 'cast' (cast doubt on). 'Throw doubt on' and 'raise doubt about' are less common alternatives. The subject is typically new information, a discovery, or a question.

4. in a state where it is uncertain whether something will continue to exist, be su

4.名詞B2
釋義

未定；難保

未來或成功不確定，可能無法持續

in a state where it is uncertain whether something will continue to exist, be successful, or happen as planned

例句

The future of the community center remains in doubt after the city council cut its funding.

市議會刪減經費後，社區中心的未來仍然懸而未決。

future remains in doubt

With the team's best player injured, their chances of winning the championship were in doubt.

隊上最佳球員受傷後，他們奪冠的機會變得難以確定。

chances in doubt

同義詞
  • uncertain

    more general; 'in doubt' specifically implies a risk of failure

  • at risk

    stronger; implies danger or loss, not just uncertainty

反義詞

文法句型

[something] in doubt

remain in doubt

future/success in doubt

用法筆記

This is a predicative expression — it always follows the verb (be/remain/seem). It cannot be used before a noun like an adjective. 'In doubt' is typically used with abstract subjects like future, success, or chances.

常見錯誤

❌The in-doubt project was postponed.
✅The project was in doubt, so it was postponed.
💡'In doubt' cannot be used as an adjective before a noun.

5. used to emphasize that you are completely certain about your opinion or judgment

5.名詞B2
釋義

毫無疑問

強調個人確信無疑的意見或判斷

used to emphasize that you are completely certain about your opinion or judgment, especially when stating something forcefully

例句

The older violinist is without doubt the most accomplished musician in the orchestra.

那位年長的小提琴手無疑是樂團中最出色的音樂家。

without doubt — emphatic opinion

The prosecutor must prove the defendant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt in a criminal trial.

在刑事審判中，檢察官必須證明被告有罪達到無合理懷疑的程度。

beyond reasonable doubt — legal standard

同義詞
  • undoubtedly

    adverb that can replace 'without doubt' in most contexts

  • indisputably

    more formal; implies no one could argue against it

文法句型

without doubt

beyond doubt

beyond reasonable doubt

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (no doubt): 'without doubt' / 'beyond doubt' express complete certainty with no tentativeness, while 'no doubt' can sometimes be hedging or ironic. In legal contexts 'beyond reasonable doubt' is a specific standard of proof.

常見錯誤

❌Without doubt he is guilty.' (informal writing)
✅He is without doubt guilty.' or 'Beyond doubt, he is guilty.
💡'Without doubt' is most natural after the verb 'to be'.

doubt — 動詞