doubtfuldoubt‧ful /ˈdaʊtfəl/ ●●○ adjective 
Prospects for a lasting peace remain doubtful.it is doubtful if/whether It was doubtful whether the patient would survive the operation.it is doubtful that It is doubtful that the missing airmen will ever be found.2not sure that something is true or right: ‘Everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see.’ Jenny looked doubtful.doubtful if/whether I’m still doubtful whether I should accept this job.doubtful about (doing) something At first we were doubtful about employing Charlie.3unlikely to be successful: Already the whole scheme was looking increasingly doubtful.4probably not good SYN dubious: Here the tap water is of doubtful quality.—doubtfully adverb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Is Maddy coming tonight?" "It's looking doubtful - she was really sick."
- Doblado accepted the doubtful honor of organizing the fund-raiser.
- I could see that Holmes still looked doubtful.
- It's doubtful that we'll finish this tonight.
- The general expressed his concern about the number of citizens with doubtful loyalties.
- And, of course, it was doubtful whether the girl would back him up.
- But the result confirmed that building society provisions will rocket this year to cover bad and doubtful home loans.
- He saw they were doubtful now that this had been a serious meeting.
- It is doubtful whether the diners actually find these offerings delicious.
- It means more doubtful inward investment.
- Most local NGOs are dependent on donor funds; their sustainability without such funds is doubtful.
- Though it was doubtful that Fen's company was any less disturbing.
Longman Language Activatornot caring about something
: 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.''
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
possible but not likely something that is unlikely will probably not happen or is probably not true: · She might come with us, but it's fairly unlikely.unlikely to do something: · A small amount of the drug is unlikely to have any harmful effects.it is unlikely (that): · It is unlikely that anyone saw the attack.
formal unlikely to happen or unlikely to be true: highly improbable: · Carter claims he paid $4000 for the papers, which seems highly improbable.· The new pay agreement makes further industrial action by the union highly improbable.it is/seems improbable that: · It seems improbable that America's allies will oppose the proposed arms reduction.
very unlikely to be true or very unlikely to happen: · "Is Maddy coming tonight?" "It's looking doubtful - she was really sick."it is doubtful that: · It's doubtful that we'll finish this tonight.
extremely unlikely to happen: · The chances of such an accident happening again are very remote.· There is only a remote prospect of peace in the region.· There is a remote possibility the program could be halted, if funding were cut.
when a situation is uncertain, and something bad may happen · The situation on the island is still very uncertain and the army is on full alert.· The long-term benefits of the treatment are extremely uncertain.· The economic outlook is so uncertain that I would think carefully before investing any money.highly uncertain (=very uncertain) · The company faces a highly uncertain future.
to be uncertain and likely to be bad: · The result of the President's re-election campaign remains doubtful.· With more and more cuts in government spending, the program's future now seems doubtful.it is doubtful if/whether: · It is doubtful if she will survive the operation.· It is extremely doubtful whether the aid is actually reaching the people who need it most.it is doubtful that: · It is doubtful that the governor's proposed tax increase will be popular with voters.
if someone or something's future or success is in doubt , it seems very uncertain and they may not be able to continue or to succeed: · After yet another injury, his football career is in doubt.· The building's future remained in doubt until the government agreed to restore it.
spoken you say it's touch and go when a situation seems extremely uncertain and you are worried that something may not happen in the way you want: · It was touch and go for a few hours, but we were able to get everything out of the basement before it flooded.· An urgent operation was needed to save his life, and doctors said it was touch and go until the end of the procedure.it's touch and go whether: · Traffic was really heavy, and for a while it was touch and go whether they'd get to the wedding on time.
if something is in the balance or hangs in the balance , there is a risk that something bad will happen so that it will not continue: · The survival of the African elephant hangs in the balance.· His career as a politician hung in the balance.· I can't say what the outcome of the talks will be -- they're very much in the balance at the moment.
spoken informal use this to describe a plan or situation that seems uncertain and may not succeed or happen as you want: · "What's happening about your new job?" "The whole thing's rather iffy at the moment."· I was hoping to go to the beach today but it's looking iffy because of the weather.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY ‘Everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see.’ Jenny looked doubtful. At first we were doubtful about employing Charlie.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
‘Everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see.’ Jenny looked doubtful. At first we were doubtful about employing Charlie. (=unknown and possibly suspicious)· The fire was still being treated as of doubtful origin.
(=used to suggest that something may have been stolen) artworks of doubtful provenance
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB artworks of doubtful provenance· Top scorer Ian Wright and skipper Tony Adams are extremely doubtful.· While keeping an open mind, most archaeologists remain extremely doubtful.· It's extremely doubtful whether, in these days of computer technology, information is still best conveyed by means of lectures.· Former Manchester United reserve Paul Dalton is rated extremely doubtful with a strained thigh muscle.
· Whether the boy understood what father said, or whether Ramsey did so, is more doubtful.· It means more doubtful inward investment.· Whether such a process can operate on a large enough scale to produce major oasis depressions is more doubtful.· To outsiders it seemed that the regime was becoming unstable and that its survival appeared more and more doubtful.· He may have admitted a friend or relative, although that's even more doubtful.· What seems more doubtful is that Charles's future share in the realm was overtly discussed in June 823.· The continuum between main secondary and post-16 education is more doubtful.· His own men would, of course; but the others were more doubtful.
· Whether all this activity actually reduces the suffering in the region is very doubtful.· He looked very doubtful when I asked certain questions and laughed me to scorn when I gave my verdict.· In my opinion it is very doubtful whether all this disruption to so many people was justified by the experience I gained.· How much of this former water erosion can be attributed to pluvial phases in the Pleistocene is very doubtful.· The real danger lies in a too enthusiastic recording of very doubtful features as marine terraces.· It was very doubtful that she would spend next Christmas here.· Whether privilege may be claimed in respect of actions rather than words is very doubtful.
NOUN· Rain, Oliver and Cobalt all gave Tim rather doubtful looks.
WORD FAMILYadjectivedoubtfuldoubtlessindubitableundoubtedadverbdoubtfullyindubitablyundoubtedlynoundoubtdoubterverbdoubt
1probably not true or not likely to happen: Prospects for a lasting peace remain doubtful.it is doubtful if/whether It was doubtful whether the patient would survive the operation.it is doubtful that It is doubtful that the missing airmen will ever be found.2not sure that something is true or right: ‘Everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see.’ Jenny looked doubtful.doubtful if/whether I’m still doubtful whether I should accept this job.doubtful about (doing) something At first we were doubtful about employing Charlie.3unlikely to be successful: Already the whole scheme was looking increasingly doubtful.4probably not good SYN dubious: Here the tap water is of doubtful quality.—doubtfully adverb