Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Certainty and Doubt

Here you will learn some English words about certainty and doubt, such as "doubt", "assure", "expect", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

review

flashcard

spelling

quiz

start-learning

certainty [noun]

the state of being sure about something, usually when there is proof

Ex: Her certainty about the company 's financial stability allowed her to invest with confidence .

doubt [noun]

a feeling of disbelief or uncertainty about something

Ex:

confusion [noun]

a state of being confused and not having a clear understanding of an action, behavior, etc.

Ex: The conflicting information provided by the two sources only added to her confusion .

confidence [noun]

a state of hopeful expectation that things will turn out favorably

Ex:

probability [noun]

the likelihood or chance of an event occurring or being true

Ex: The researchers calculated the probability of success for their experiment .

probable [adjective]

having a high possibility of happening or being true based on available evidence or circumstances

Ex: The detective considered the suspect 's alibi to be probable , as it was supported by multiple witnesses .

to suspect [verb]

to think that something is probably true, especially something bad, without having proof

Ex: Considering the clouds on the horizon , I suspect it might rain this afternoon .

to assure [verb]

to make someone feel confident or certain about someone or something

Ex: The manager assured the team of the company 's commitment to their well-being .

to hesitate [verb]

to pause before saying or doing something because of uncertainty or nervousness

Ex: John hesitated before entering the unfamiliar building , wondering if he was in the right place .

hesitation [noun]

a feeling of doubt, uncertainty, or reluctance before acting

Ex: The team acted without hesitation once the signal was given .

conviction [noun]

a belief or opinion that is very strong

Ex: The artist expressed his convictions through powerful paintings that portrayed themes of equality and justice .

to guarantee [verb]

to make sure that something will occur

Ex: Rigorous testing guarantees that the software will be bug-free before its release to the public .

to ensure [verb]

to make sure that something will happen

Ex: The teacher is ensuring that students understand the new lesson .

to expect [verb]

to think or believe that it is possible for something to happen or for someone to do something

Ex: She did n't expect such a warm reception at the event .

speculative [adjective]

according to opinions or guesses instead of facts or evidence

Ex: The proposal was rejected due to its speculative nature , lacking feasibility studies or supporting evidence .

concrete [adjective]

according to facts instead of opinions

Ex: The company 's decision-making process is based on concrete data and market analysis rather than speculation .

undeniable [adjective]

clearly true and therefore impossible to deny or question

Ex: The importance of education in shaping the future of society is undeniable .

debatable [adjective]

subject to argument or disagreement

Ex: His actions in the situation are debatable , as some believe he made the right call while others disagree .

inevitable [adjective]

unable to be prevented

Ex: Given the current trajectory of climate change , it 's inevitable that sea levels will continue to rise .

bound [adjective]

likely to happen or sure to experience something

Ex:

tentative [adjective]

not firmly established or decided, with the possibility of changes in the future

Ex: His acceptance of the job offer was tentative , as he wanted to discuss the salary before finalizing anything .

convinced [adjective]

having a strong belief in something

Ex:

set [adjective]

prepared or likely prepared for something

Ex:

inconclusive [adjective]

not producing a clear result or decision

Ex: The experiment 's results were inconclusive , raising questions about the validity of the methodology .

presumably [adverb]

used to say that the something is believed to be true based on available information or evidence

Ex: The CEO 's sudden resignation is presumably linked to the company 's financial challenges .

to assume [verb]

to think that something is true without having proof or evidence

Ex: Yesterday , he mistakenly assumed that the meeting was canceled .

assumption [noun]

an idea or belief that one thinks is true without having a proof

Ex: She made the assumption that he would handle the project alone .

decidedly [adverb]

in a way that is certain and beyond any doubt

Ex: He was decidedly uninterested in the topic of the conversation .

supposedly [adverb]

used to suggest that something is assumed to be true, often with a hint of doubt

Ex: The new restaurant is supposedly the best in town , according to online reviews .

doubtful [adjective]

improbable or unlikely to happen or be the case

Ex: The team 's chances of winning the championship seem doubtful after their recent string of losses .

dubious [adjective]

causing doubt or suspicion

Ex: The dubious nature of the evidence made the case hard to prove .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL
Family and Relationships	Stages of Life	Personal Characteristics	Feelings and Emotions
Appearance	Clothing and Fashion	Colors and Shapes	Education
Employment	Language and Grammar	The Human Body	Communication
Travel and Tourism	Transportation	Means of Transportation	The Computer World
Society and Social Issues	Healthcare and Medicine	Medical Examinations and Procedures	Physical Conditions and Injuries
Mental Disorders	Physical Disabilities and Illnesses	Geography	Space
The Environment and Weather	The Animal Kingdom	The Art World	Cinema and Theater
Music	Literature	Broadcasting and Journalism	Food and Restaurant
Diet	Agriculture and Plants	Point of View	Cause and Effect
Certainty and Doubt	Suggestions and Rules	Pride and Prejudice	Houses and Buildings
Hobbies and Games	Shopping	The Economy	The Business World
Success and Failure	Politics	Law and Order	Crime and Punishment
War and Peace	Religion	Biology, Physics, and Chemistry	Mathematics and Measurement
Engineering and Research	Athletics	Time and History