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# doubtfully

adverb (doubtfully)

«doubtfully» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. In a way that shows you are not sure about something, or do not quite believe it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#m1)
2. In a way that is uncertain or unlikely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#m2)

### In the lessons

Alice often speaks or looks «doubtfully» in Wonderland, because so many strange things are said to her. Stories use it to show a character is unsure without saying «I don't believe you»: «"Are you sure?" she asked doubtfully.» Often with «say», «look», «ask», «shake your head».

### Examples

- «Is this the right way?» asked Alice doubtfully. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#x1)
- Mum looked doubtfully at the burnt toast. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#x2)
- He doubtfully tasted the strange green soup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#x3)
- «I suppose it might work,» she said doubtfully. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#x4)
- The Mole looked doubtfully at the wobbly boat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#x5)
- The dog sniffed the new food doubtfully. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#x6)
- “There is a way,” said the servant doubtfully. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/#x7)

### Note

From «doubt» + «-ful» + «-ly». The b in «doubt» is silent: «DOWT-ful-ee». Spelled with double l at the end.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «doubtfully» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/doubtfully/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«doubtfully» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/doubtfully.html) on Mova free.