doubtfully C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈdaʊtfəli/ UK /ˈdaʊtfʊli/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adv in a manner showing uncertainty or hesitation She eyed the rickety bridge doubtfully before stepping onto it. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adv · in a manner showing... uncertainlyhesitantlydubiouslyskepticallytentativelyquestioningly ↔ Opposites confidentlycertainlyassuredlydecidedly Word family Related forms doubtdoubtfuldoubtfulnessdoubtless Etymology AI details From doubtful + -ly; doubtful is from doubt (from Old French douter, from Latin dubitare 'to waver') + -ful. douter Old French dubitare Latin dubius Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # doubtfully **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˈdaʊtfəli/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈdaʊtfʊli/ ## Meanings 1. in a manner showing uncertainty or hesitation ## Examples - She eyed the rickety bridge doubtfully before stepping onto it. ## Synonyms - uncertainly - hesitantly - dubiously - skeptically - tentatively - questioningly ## Antonyms - confidently - certainly - assuredly - decidedly ## Related Forms - doubt - doubtful - doubtfulness - doubtless ## Roots and Affixes - Root: douter - Root: dubitare - Root: dubius ## Etymology From doubtful + -ly; doubtful is from doubt (from Old French douter, from Latin dubitare 'to waver') + -ful. ## AI Etymology Doubtfully comes from doubtful + -ly; doubtful is from doubt (from Old French douter, from Latin dubitare 'to waver') + -ful. The etymological trail includes Old French douter, Latin dubitare, and Latin dubius. As an adverb, doubtfully means in a manner showing uncertainty or hesitation. The same family is visible in related forms such as doubt, doubtful, doubtfulness, and doubtless. The analysis is partly morphological, with the modern form built from the elements named in the history. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown