doodle

1 of 2

verb

doo·​dle ˈdü-dᵊl How to pronounce doodle (audio)
doodled; doodling ˈdüd-liŋ How to pronounce doodle (audio)
ˈdü-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

1
: to make a doodle
2

transitive verb

: to produce by doodling
doodler
ˈdüd-lər How to pronounce doodle (audio)
ˈdü-dᵊl-ər
noun

doodle

2 of 2

noun

: an aimless or casual scribble, design, or sketch
also : a minor work

Examples of doodle in a Sentence

Verb She doodled in her notebook instead of taking notes. I plan to spend the entire vacation just doodling.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Under Niccol, Starbucks has brought back its tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the food and drink menu; ended its open-bathroom policy for non-paying customers; and laid off 1,100 corporate employees in February. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025 Ray3 also provides the ability to doodle on an image, drawing out the trajectory of a character on screen, with the tool then generating a video of the movement. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
In addition to remodels, smaller touches have been integrated like bringing back self-serve milk and sugar stations as well doodles on coffee cups. Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025 For his Art Car Boot Fair debut, Mr Doodle will arrive on a yellow American school bus completely covered in his signature doodles, present a live drawing performance, and launch signed copies of his new double picture disc vinyl record. Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for doodle

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps from doodle to ridicule

First Known Use

Verb

1935, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doodle was in 1935

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doodle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doodle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

doodle

1 of 2 verb
doo·​dle ˈdüd-ᵊl How to pronounce doodle (audio)
doodled; doodling ˈdüd-liŋ How to pronounce doodle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to make a doodle
doodler
-lər How to pronounce doodle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

doodle

2 of 2 noun
: a scribble, design, or sketch done while thinking of something else

More from Merriam-Webster on doodle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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