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to double

to double

56 4.2
To bend over because of pain or strong laughter
  • verb
  • /ˈdʌbəl/
translation icon : doblarse
  • Kilvara kicks him in the stomach, doubling him over and driving him back.

I mean, people that had perfectly normal lungs, you know, we're doubling over like if they had asthma.

Examples

  • The blow connects perfectly, and the guy starts to double over, his knees weak, and he falls.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "Down and at 'em, boys," the team chanted, and then they doubled over in laughter.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Right away, she doubles over onto the front seat.

  • Then Trump says something else into Epstein's ear that makes him double over with laughter.

  • Within seconds he was doubling over and coughing uncontrollably.

  • The intruder clapped his hands and doubled over, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Ned and every male in the courtroom wince at this, doubling over in imagined agony.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • She doubled over with laughter after hearing the hilarious joke.

  • The pain was so intense that he had to double over in agony.

  • Seeing the unexpected surprise made her doubled over in joy.

Synonyms

to bend
vsto double
194 1.0

To lean forward at the waist

is about sudden curling from pain or laughter rather than general leaning
to hunch over
vsto double
17 4.2

Bend forward with rounded shoulders and back

is caused by sudden physical reactions like pain rather than posture
to double over
vsto double
10 3.3

To bend forward suddenly because of strong pain or laughter

is more general, not limited to sudden movement
to double up
vsto double
  • Informal
1 3.4

Bend over and curl up because of sudden pain or strong laughter

includes those causes but also often from illness

Antonyms

559 1.0

To get up from sitting or lying and be on your feet

114 2.5

Make something straight and in the right position

Idioms

on the double
  • Informal
27 3.7

Very quickly and without delay

2 2.9

At twice the normal speed to move or work

double Dutch
  • Archaic
9.6

Speech or writing that is hard to understand and sounds like nonsense

double quick
  • Informal
4.1

Very fast, without delay

all double Dutch
  • Informal
9.9

Language you cannot understand at all

So tired you can hardly move

9.9

A very excited yes that shows strong agreement

Phrasal Verbs

To look again to make sure it is correct or safe

to double down
  • Informal
53 6.5

To try harder to continue something even when people disagree or it is risky

To turn around and go back the way you came

16 5.0

To have two players guard one opponent at the same time

To leave a car beside another stopped car, blocking traffic

To bend forward suddenly because of strong pain or laughter

To have two pictures of one thing when your eyes or head are not working well

to double tap
  • Texting
3 3.5

Tap twice quickly on a touchscreen to start a function

To go out with your partner and another couple

2 4.1

Share a bed or room meant for one person to save space

to double up
  • Informal
1 3.4

Bend over and curl up because of sudden pain or strong laughter

to double up
  • Jargon
1 6.2

Use your winnings on another bet to try to make them twice as much

to double dog dare
  • Baby Talk
1 8.3

Challenge someone playfully so they feel they cannot refuse to do something

To color something twice to make its color stronger

to double tongue
  • Specialized
8.8

Move the tongue quickly back and forth to play fast clear notes on a wind instrument

Compounds

An unfair rule that treats similar people differently and gives one group more advantages

28 2.8

An outing where two couples go out together

20 2.3

A number with two digits from 10 to 99

18 4.9

A spy who secretly works for two opposing sides while pretending to help one and giving secrets to the other

double play
  • Jargon
14 3.0

A baseball play that gets two players out in one move

12 1.5

Two doors next to each other that open in the middle to make a wide entrance

11 6.6

A rule that stops a person being tried twice for the same crime

double blind
  • Specialized
10 5.1

A test in which neither participants nor researchers know who gets the treatment

Two events, such as two films or two games, held one after the other

double take
  • Informal
8 5.8

A quick look showing surprise after not noticing something at first

7 8.4

A phrase with two meanings, one often innocent and the other rude about sex

6 9.0

Confusing speech that hides the truth, often to avoid a direct answer

A coat or jacket with two overlapping front panels and two rows of buttons

double vision
  • Specialized
6 4.6

A problem where you see one object as two images

5 1.2

A bed large enough for two people to sleep in

double cross
  • Informal
5 6.6

To betray someone after pretending to help them

double-double
  • Jargon
5 9.5

To win the same two titles in two years in a row

double helix
  • Specialized
5 4.4

A structure made of two spirals twisted together, like DNA molecules

5 3.9

Two equal servings of alcohol or strong coffee served together

A bus or vehicle with two levels for passengers, one above the other

4 2.7

A layer of fat under the chin that looks like a second chin

4 3.7

Payment at twice the regular pay rate for extra work

3 6.9

A game where two ropes turn and players jump between them

3 5.6

A sentence that uses two negative words in the same clause

Two rainbows that appear in the sky at the same time, the outer one fainter and outside the inner arc

double bind
  • Specialized
2 8.1

A situation where you are given two conflicting demands you cannot satisfy, often from someone in charge

Two pans, one above the other, used to melt chocolate or gently heat food

double-blind study
  • Specialized
2 4.2

An experiment where neither participants nor researchers know who gets the real treatment or a fake one to avoid bias

double-bogey
  • Jargon
2 8.0

A golf score two strokes above par for a hole

double-crosser
  • Offensive
2 6.8

A person who pretends to be loyal but betrays someone

There is an empty line between every line of text

double time
  • Jargon
2 4.9

A fast marching pace used by soldiers to move quickly

A suit jacket with wide front flaps that overlap and two columns of buttons

daily double
  • Jargon
1 8.1

A bet that picks the winners of two races on the same day

1 3.6

A large string instrument with four strings that makes very low sounds when played with a bow or plucked

1 3.0

Thick food made from milk with very high fat used as a dessert topping

double entry
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A bookkeeping system that records every transaction as a debit in one account and a credit in another

double fault
  • Jargon
1 2.8

Two bad serves in a row that make the player lose the point

1 3.7

Two layers of glass with a space between them that keep heat in and noise out

double star
  • Specialized
1 5.5

Two stars that are very close and usually move around each other

double knit
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A thick fabric made from two layers of thread joined together that holds its shape well

1 6.9

To score two strokes more than the hole's par in golf

1 7.8

A part of a life insurance policy that pays twice the money if death is an accident

double reverse
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A running play in American football where the ball is handed twice, each time changing direction

double pneumonia
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A lung infection that affects both lungs and causes serious breathing problems

1 3.2

A square that gives a word twice its score when placed on it

double-dealer
  • Offensive
1 8.5

A person who pretends to be a friend but secretly works against others

1 5.1

A bookkeeping system that records each transaction twice to keep accounts balanced

double bond
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A link between two atoms where they share two pairs of electrons

1 2.7

An extra look to make sure something is correct

double dribble
  • Specialized
1 3.7

An illegal basketball move when a player bounces the ball with both hands or bounces it again after stopping

double eagle
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A former United States gold coin worth twenty dollars

double dipper
  • Literature
1 7.5

A person who receives a government salary and a pension at the same time

double dipping
  • Literature
1 6.2

Receiving two incomes from the same source, for example a pension and a salary

to double stitch
  • Specialized
1 4.1

To sew two rows of stitches for extra strength or decoration

double stitch
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A crochet stitch you make by pulling the yarn through twice to make taller, looser fabric

double stopping
  • Informal
1 8.4

Playing two notes at the same time on a violin or cello by pressing two strings

A jacket with overlapping front panels fastened by two rows of buttons

Dishonest behavior of pretending one thing but doing another

A window with two parts that can both slide up and down

double-dyed
  • Offensive
1 9.6

Being very bad and dishonest in a strong way

Text typed with a blank line between each line

1 7.4

A hard, straight hit into the outfield that lets the batter reach second base

double acute accent
  • Specialized
9.9

A mark of two acute accents placed above a vowel to show a long rounded sound in Hungarian

double bar
  • Specialized
5.7

A pair of vertical lines in written music that show the end of a main section or the whole piece

double bar
  • Specialized
5.5

A symbol in programming that returns true when one or both conditions are true

A large woodwind instrument like a bassoon that sounds one octave lower

double bookkeeping
  • Specialized
4.7

A system of recording each transaction twice, once as a debit and once as a credit to ensure accuracy

double clinch
  • Specialized
7.5

A knot made with two loops to hold a fishing line and hook tightly

double eagle
  • Jargon
8.4

A score in golf three strokes under par on one hole

double first
  • Jargon
9.0

A top university degree given for two different subjects at some British universities

double flat
  • Specialized
8.4

A music sign placed before a note that makes it sound one whole tone lower

double crochet
  • Specialized
6.9

A tall stitch made with a hook by pulling yarn through loops, taller than a single stitch

How Bent

to curl up
  • Informal
57 2.8
to double
56 4.2
to bend
268 1.0

Surface Forms

double infinitive
doubled past
doubled past participle
doubling present participle
doubles third person singular

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb double meaning to bend over is to think of folding in two; it links back to Latin duplex ('twofold'), so to 'double over' is like becoming 'folded' into two.