1 B1 neutral
To bend sharply at the waist due to sudden pain, such as stomach cramps or a physical blow.
"He was doubled over in pain after being hit in the stomach."
mixed
double over
B1 neutral mixed transitive/intransitive
To bend sharply at the waist, usually because of pain, laughter, or a physical blow.
In plain English
To bend your body forward from the middle because something hurts or is very funny.
What does "double over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To bend sharply at the waist from uncontrollable laughter.
"The joke was so good that we were all doubled over with laughter."
mixed
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fold the body back over itself, like doubling a piece of paper.
Actually means
To bend your body forward from the middle because something hurts or is very funny.
Usage tip
Used both intransitively (the person doubles over spontaneously) and transitively (something causes the person to double over). Very natural in both spoken and written English.
Words that pair with "double over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
pain laughter cramps punch stomach agony
How to conjugate "double over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
double over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
doubles over
he/she/it
Past simple
doubled over
yesterday
Past participle
doubled over
have + pp
-ing form
doubling over
continuous
Hear "double over" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "double over" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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