dog-eared

adjective

ˈdȯg-ˌird 

1

: having dog-ears

a dog-eared book

2

: shabby, timeworn

a dog-eared resort

dog-eared myths

Synonyms of dog-eared

• dilapidated
• neglected
• tattered

Examples of dog-eared in a Sentence

an old dog-eared copy of a beloved book

Recent Examples on the Web

The pages, for all the effort that has gone into preserving them, are a little dog-eared. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 2 June 2026

My esteemed coworkers in Vulture’s book Slack, in fact, suggested that copies of The Secret of Secrets should come pre-wrinkled and dog-eared, with salt stains and sand in the pages. — Emily Heller, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025

My copies of these books are now dog-eared to death and as appropriately stained as favorite kitchen tools. — Lisa Donovan, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dog-eared

• commandeered
• disappeared
• engineered
• interfered
• persevered
• pioneered
• reappeared
• volunteered
• adhered
• appeared
• bluebeard
• cashiered

Kids Definition

dog-eared

adjective

ˈdȯ-ˌgi(ə)rd

1

: having dog-ears

2

: worn-out from too much use