double

1 of 2

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

doubleness

2 of 2

noun

dou·​ble·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being double or doubled

Synonyms of double

Adjective

• dual
• twin
• binary

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Brendan Banfield and the 26-year-old au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, both took the stand during the double-murder trial and offered conflicting accounts about the killings. —Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 5 June 2026

That’s also when Boyd’s Jess Withers extend the Jackets’ lead to 8-3 with a double to left field. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2026

The Angels bunched six hits in a six-run second, the rally featuring Jose Siri’s RBI double and RBI singles by Logan O’Hoppe, Grissom and Peraza. —Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

After starting the fifth with a Contreras double and a Masataka Yoshida walk, Mickey Gasper hit a fly ball to deep center field that looked fairly playable off the bat. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026

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

Noun

Middle English doublenesse, from double entry 1 + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

13th 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 digits
• 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

Rhymes for double

• bubble
• rubble
• stubble
• trouble
• redouble

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