Meaning & use
doubles
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Meaning
nounplural
a game or match in tennis or a similar sport played by two teams of two players each
Grammar: Always used with a plural verb: The doubles are starting now. Even one match is called doubles.
Patterns
- play doubles
- mixed doubles
- men's doubles
- women's doubles
They won the mixed doubles at the club tournament.
We usually play doubles on Saturday mornings.
The doubles final was the most exciting match of the day.
Common combinations
- mixed doubles
- Mixed doubles means each team has one man and one woman.
- play doubles
- Let's play doubles so everyone gets a game.
- men's doubles
- He entered the men's doubles with his brother.
- women's doubles
- The women's doubles match lasted three sets.
Synonyms and how they differ
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: doubles or dual?
doubles vs dual
Dual means having two parts or aspects (dual purpose); doubles is only about sports matches with two players per side.
Practice
In tennis, ______ is played by two teams of two players each.
Choose one answer.
Doubles is a plural noun for the game itself, like 'Doubles is fun' or 'They play doubles.' Double is an adjective or verb and does not name the sport.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “doubles”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.