Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - doubt

~1 n 1 »UNCERTAIN FEELING« a feeling or feelings of being uncertain about something + about/as to  (Maisie expressed private doubts about Lawrence's sanity.) + whether/who/what etc  (There's no doubt who was responsible for this outrage.) + (that)  (I have little doubt that the coup will succeed.) cast doubt (s) on sth/raise doubts about sth (=say that something may not be true or real)  (The new evidence cast some doubt on his reliability as a witness. | an element of doubt (=a slight doubt) | without a shadow of a doubt (=there is no doubt at all)) 2 no doubt used when you are saying that you think something is probably true  (No doubt she was disturbed by the noise. | no doubt about it (=it is certainly true))  (Someone had been eavesdropping, no doubt about it.) 3 have your doubts (about) used to say that you have reasons for not feeling certain about something or someone  ("Don't you think she'd be a good candidate?" "Well, I have my doubts.") 4 if/when in doubt used when advising someone what to do  (If in doubt, don't eat it.) 5 be in doubt if someone's or something's future or success is in doubt, they may not be able to continue or succeed  (The future of the public library is in doubt.) 6 be in doubt about to not be certain about something  (He's still in some doubt about what to do.) 7 be beyond doubt if something is beyond doubt, it is completely certain  (Patel's integrity is beyond doubt. | beyond reasonable doubt law)  (Her guilt was established beyond reasonable doubt.) 8 without/beyond doubt formal used to emphasize an opinion  (Sally was without doubt one of the finest swimmers in the school.) 9 open to doubt something that is open to doubt has not been proved to be definitely true or real  (The authenticity of the relics is open to doubt.)  (- see also self­doubt, give sb/sth the benefit of the doubt benefit1 (4)) ~2 v 1 to think that something may not be true  (Kim never doubted his story. | doubt (that))  (I don't doubt that he's a brilliant scientist, but can he teach?) 2 especially spoken to think that something is unlikely  (doubt if/whether)  (You can complain, but I doubt if it'll make any difference. | doubt sth)  ("Do you think there'll be any tickets left?" "I very much doubt it." | doubt (that))  (I doubt that we'll ever see George again.) 3 to not trust or have confidence in someone  (If anyone doubts my ability to handle this, they should say so. | doubt sb's word (=think that someone may not be telling the truth)) - doubter n