doubtless

doubtless — adverb

1. used to show that you believe strongly that something is definitely true or will

1.adverbB2
Definition

used to show that you believe strongly that something is definitely true or will definitely happen

Example

Iker will doubtless be pleased to hear that the board accepted his proposal.

sentence adverb before main verb (will + be pleased)

The new trade rules will doubtless increase costs for small family farms in the region.

Common collocations
  • will doubtless
  • has doubtless
  • doubtless be
  • doubtless have
  • doubtless the
Synonyms
  • undoubtedly

    very similar in meaning and formality, slightly more common in everyday use

  • certainly

    broader range of use, less formal, also works as an intensifier

  • unquestionably

    stronger emphasis, often used in argument or debate

  • without doubt

    more emphatic phrasing, common in spoken English

Antonyms
  • possibly

    expresses uncertainty rather than certainty

  • perhaps

    indicates a weaker likelihood, not certainty

Grammar Patterns

doubtless + will/have/be + complement

Doubtless + clause

Usage Note

Typically used as a sentence adverb, 'doubtless' modifies an entire clause rather than a single verb. It appears most often in formal and written English and is less common in casual conversation. Unlike 'probably', it expresses strong certainty, not likelihood.

Common Mistakes

She will doubtlessly win the competition.
She will doubtless win the competition.
'doubtless' is already an adverb; 'doubtlessly' is nonstandard and rarely used by native speakers.
I will doubtless come to the party.' (when you mean 'maybe/probably').
I will doubtless come to the party.' (if you mean you are certain)
'doubtless' expresses certainty, not probability; use 'probably' for a weaker claim.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four express strong certainty, but they differ in tone and formality. 'Doubtless' carries a slightly formal, almost literary quality and is often used to project confidence about a future event or a judgment ('The court will doubtless uphold the ruling'). 'Undoubtedly' is the closest synonym and can replace 'doubtless' in almost any context, though it feels more direct and slightly more common. 'Certainly' is less formal and much more versatile — it can signal agreement ('Certainly!'), intensify a statement ('It is certainly worth trying'), or express certainty. 'No doubt' is the most conversational of the four and can sometimes carry a hint of concession ('No doubt he is skilled, but…'). In formal writing, 'doubtless' and 'undoubtedly' are preferred; in everyday speech, 'certainly' and 'no doubt' are more natural.

doubtless ↗undoubtedly ↗certainly ↗no doubt ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • will doubtless
  • has doubtless
  • doubtless be
  • doubtless have

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from Middle English 'douteles', which combined 'doute' (meaning 'doubt') with the suffix '-les' (meaning 'without'). So the word literally means 'without doubt'. It has been used as an adverb expressing certainty since the 1300s.