double

1 of 4

adjective

dou·​ble ˈdə-bəl 

1

: having a twofold relation or character : dual

2

: consisting of two usually combined members or parts

an egg with a double yolk

3

a

: being twice as great or as many

double the number of expected applicants

b

of a coin : worth two of the specified amount

a double eagle

a double crown

4

: marked by duplicity : deceitful

5

: folded in two

6

: of extra size, strength, or value

a double martini

7

: having more than the normal number of floral leaves often at the expense of the sporophylls

8

of rhyme : involving correspondence of two syllables (as in exciting and inviting)

9

: designed for the use of two persons

a double room

a double bed

doubleness noun

double

2 of 4

verb

doubled; doubling ˈdə-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to make twice as great or as many: such as

a

: to increase by adding an equal amount

b

: to amount to twice the number of

c

: to make a call in bridge that increases the value of odd tricks or undertricks at (an opponent's bid)

2

a

: to bend or fold (something, such as a sheet of paper) usually in the middle so that one part lies directly against the other part

b

: clench

doubled his fist

c

: to cause to stoop

3

: to avoid by doubling : elude

4

a

: to replace in a dramatic role

b

: to play (dramatic roles) by doubling

5

a(1)

: to advance or score (a base runner) by a double

(2)

: to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a double

b

: to put out (a base runner) in completing a double play

6

: double-team

Jackson's absence was supposed to allow defenses to double Gates.

—Jim Trotter

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become twice as much or as many

b

: to double a bid (as in bridge)

2

a

: to turn sharply and suddenly

especially : to turn back on one's course

the rabbit doubled back on its tracks

b

: to follow a circuitous course

3

: to become bent or folded usually in the middle

—usually used with up

she doubled up in pain

4

a

: to serve an additional purpose or perform an additional duty

b

: to play a dramatic role as a double

5

: to make a double in baseball

doubler

ˈdə-b(ə-)lər 

noun

double

3 of 4

adverb

1

: to twice the extent or amount

2

: two together

the children had to sleep double

3

: downward and forward from the usual position

he was bent double with pain

double

4 of 4

noun

1

: something twice the usual size, strength, speed, quantity, or value: such as

a

: a double amount

b

: a base hit that enables the batter to reach second base

2

: one that is the counterpart of another : duplicate: such as

a

: a living person that closely resembles another living person

b

: wraith

c(1)

: understudy

(2)

: one who resembles an actor and takes his or her place especially in scenes calling for special skills

(3)

: an actor who plays more than one role in a production

3

a

: a sharp turn (as in running) : reversal

b

: an evasive shift

4

: something consisting of two paired members: such as

a

: fold

b

: a combined bet placed on two different contests

c

: two consecutive strikes in bowling

5

doubles plural : a game between two pairs of players

6

: an act of doubling in a card game

7

: a room (as in a hotel) for two guests compare single sense 4

Phrases

on the double

: very quickly : right away

Synonyms

Adjective

• binary
• bipartite
• double-barreled
• double-edged
• dual
• duplex
• twin
• twofold

Verb

• duplicate
• redouble

Adverb

• doubly
• twice
• twofold

Noun

• alter ego
• carbon
• carbon copy
• clone
• counterpart
• doppelgänger
• doppelganger
• duplicate
• duplication
• facsimile
• fetch
• image
• likeness
• look-alike
• match
• mirror image
• picture
• replica
• ringer
• spit
• spitting image
• twin

Examples of double in a Sentence

Adjective

One of the eggs had a double yolk.

The truck crossed the double yellow line and entered the other lane.

My name is “Allison,” with a double “l.”

Go through those double doors and walk to the end of the hall.

I'll have a double espresso, please.

a double dose of medicine

a double order of fries

Verb

We all doubled over laughing.

He doubled up in pain.

Adverb

raced to his side double quick

Noun

I'll have one more glass of vodka. Make it a double, please.

People often tell me that I'm his double.

The actress's double did all of the dangerous scenes.

Can you tell if it's the actor or his double in that shot?

He hit a double in the eighth inning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Players will have to balance their double lives as shopkeepers by day and warriors by night. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

The side boosters flew for the fifth time, previously used on the Psyche mission, two Space Force missions and one commercial flight with another double land landing at Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. —Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024

Verb

By the end of Reagan's first term, some spending had been cut, but tax cuts and a trillion in new defense spending had doubled and would soon triple that trillion-dollar national debt figure. —Ron Elving, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024

New trends in Gothic design led Sully’s successors to radically revamp the design, raising the roof and doubling the size of windows to let more light into the cathedral. —Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Adverb

Many destinations in Arizona double as a seasonal home for often out-of-state residents looking to avoid harsh winter weather conditions. —Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 7 Nov. 2024

Grab them for $10 apiece while they’re double discounted. Lodge, KitchenAid, Rubbermaid, and other customer-favorite brands are on sale this week. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 30 Sep. 2024

Noun

Bohm was an All-Star in 2024 while collecting 97 RBI with 44 doubles. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

The $2 billion gross doubles the previous industry record of $1 billion set by Coldplay's 156-date Music of the Spheres World Tour in August. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French duble, double, from Latin duplus (akin to Greek diploos), from duo two + -plus multiplied by; akin to Old English -feald -fold — more at two, -fold

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing double

• at the double
• bend double
• body double
• daily double
• double-A
• double-A battery
• double agent
• double album
• double back
• double bar
• double-barrel
• double-barreled
• double bass
• double bassoon
• double bill
• double bind
• double-blind
• double bogey
• double boiler
• double bond
• double-book
• double-breasted
• double check
• double chin
• double click
• double-clutch
• double cream
• double-crested cormorant
• double-crop
• double cross
• double dagger
• double date
• double-dealing
• double-deck
• double-decked
• double-decker
• double-digit
• double-dip
• double-dome
• double door
• double-double
• double down
• double dribble
• double Dutch
• double duty
• double eagle
• double-edged
• double-edged sword
• double-ended
• double-ender
• double entendre
• double entry
• double-face
• double-faced
• double fault
• double feature
• double fertilization
• double figures
• double genitive
• double-glazed
• double glazing
• double helix
• double-hung
• double-hung window
• double hyphen
• double indemnity
• double jeopardy
• double-jointed
• double knit
• double murder
• double negative
• double occupancy
• double or nothing
• double or quits
• double-park
• double play
• double pneumonia
• double prime
• double-quick
• double reed
• double refraction
• double-ring
• double salt
• double-sided
• double-space
• double standard
• double star
• double-stop
• double sugar
• double take
• double-talk
• double-team
• double time
• double-tongue
• double-u
• double up
• double up on
• double vision
• double whammy
• double-wide
• lead a double life
• on the double
• see double
• stunt double
• takeout double
• that goes double for
• triple-double
• twin double

Kids Definition

double

1 of 4 adjective

dou·​ble ˈdəb-əl 

1

: dual sense 1

a double role

2

: consisting of two members or parts

an egg with a double yolk

3

: being twice as great or as many

had double the number of expected sales

4

: folded in two

5

: having more than the usual number of floral parts and especially petals

double roses

doubleness noun

double

2 of 4 verb

doubled; doubling ˈdəb-(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to make, be, or become twice as great or as many

double a recipe

2

a

: to bend or fold (as a sheet of paper) usually in the middle so that one part lies directly against the other part

b

: to close tightly the fingers of : clench

doubled his fist

c

: to cause to bend at the waist

d

: to become bent or folded usually in the middle

she doubled up in pain

3

: to have an additional use or job

the cook doubles as dishwasher

4

: to make a double in baseball

5

: to turn sharply and go back on the same path first taken

the rabbit doubled back on its tracks

double

3 of 4 adverb

1

: doubly sense 1

2

: two together

sleep double

double

4 of 4 noun

1

a

: something twice another

12 is the double of 6

b

: a hit in baseball that allows a batter to reach second base

2

: duplicate entry 3

especially : a person who closely resembles another

3

: a sharp turn : reversal

4

: fold entry 4 sense 2

5

plural : a game between two pairs of players

tennis doubles

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English double "double, dual," from early French double (same meaning), from Latin duplus "double," from duo "two" and -plus "multiplied by" — related to dual