dubitare

Dubitare is an Italian verb meaning to doubt or to be uncertain about the truth, reliability, or validity of something. It is used to express skepticism, hesitation, or questioning of statements, plans, probabilities, or beliefs.

Etymology and sense: the verb comes from Latin dubitare, related to dubius meaning doubtful. The related noun dubbio (doubt) and the adjective dubbio or dubbioso share the same root.

Usage and constructions: dubitare is commonly followed by di plus a noun or pronoun, as in dubitare di qualcosa or dubitare di qualcuno. It can also govern a subordinate clause introduced by che, with the subordinate verb in the subjunctive: dubitare che sia vero. The phrase non dubitare is used to express lack of doubt or conviction.

Conjugation overview: dubitare is a regular first-conjugation verb. Present indicative: io dubito, tu dubiti, lui/lei dubita, noi dubitiamo, voi dubitate, loro dubitano. Imperfect: dubitavo, dubitavi, dubitava, dubitavamo, dubitavate, dubitavano. Future: dubiterò, dubiterai, dubiterà, dubiteremo, dubiterete, dubiteranno. Present conditional: dubiterei, dubiteresti, dubiterebbe, dubiteremmo, dubitereste, dubiterebbero. Present subjunctive: dubiti, dubiti, dubitiamo, dubitiate, dubitino; imperfect subjunctive: dubitassi, dubitasse, dubitassimo, dubitaste, dubitassero. Imperative: dubita, dubitiamo, dubitate. Past participle: dubitato; gerund: dubitando. Tense combinations use avere as the auxiliary in compound tenses (ho dubitato, avevo dubitato, etc.).

Nuance and related terms: dubitare conveys uncertainty or skepticism more than belief, and is contrasted with credere or essere sicuro. Related terms include il dubbio (the doubt) and mettere in dubbio (to cast doubt on). See also dubitare di, dubitare che, dubbio.