dow·el
ˈdau̇(-ə)l 
1
: a pin fitting into a hole in an abutting piece to prevent motion or slipping
also
: a round rod or stick used especially for cutting up into dowels
2
: a piece of wood driven into a wall so that other pieces can be nailed to it
Examples of dowel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
At left, a dowel shows where the bullet struck from the back right seat, through to the the front passenger seat, [pictured right] where Diane McIver was sitting.
—Maureen Maher, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2024
Hot-glue a dowel between two green strips, right down the center.
—Amanda Kingloff, Parents, 2 Feb. 2024
This classic straight, handleless dowel pin is right in line with what Lucas prefers.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Stitch 1 inch from top and bottom of each strip for dowel casings; slip in dowels.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2023
Then use wood dowels to hold hangable items, support shelves, and mount hanging rods.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Shape is the easiest answer to this question: dowel is straight while French is tapered.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Dominos, on the other hand, are like wide, flat dowels, and provide alignment as well as a great deal of shear strength.
—Jean Levasseur, Popular Science, 26 July 2023
Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Tie the other end of the string to a wooden stick or dowel.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022
If the stem is very weak, use a stick or dowel as a splint to prevent the stem from breaking off.
—Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 19 Mar. 2022
Cut 1x2 into eight 36-inch pieces, then cut 3/8-inch dowel rods into 12-inch lengths.
—Chelsea Evers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2021
Plug the holes with 3⁄8-inch dowel glued into place and trimmed flush [8].
—Ted Kilcommons, Popular Mechanics, 18 July 2020
For a classic spiral design, place your finger or dowel rod in the center of the shirt and start turning clockwise until the entire shirt reaches a spiral design.
—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 9 June 2020
Kay would have had to carefully dowel these cuts together, and then shape them into a perfectly round wheel.
—Cody Cassidy, Wired, 6 May 2020
The great room, which features tongue-and-groove, doweled rafters above matching Koa floors, provides plenty of room to entertain, but the downstairs game room is where the real fun happens.
—Liv Sotheby's International Realty, The Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2019
Noun
Place strips of masking tape across the can to hold the dowel in place, then place the can in the freezer overnight or until the juice is solid.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
At left, a dowel shows where the bullet struck from the back right seat, through to the the front passenger seat, [pictured right] where Diane McIver was sitting.
—Maureen Maher, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2024
Hot-glue a dowel between two green strips, right down the center.
—Amanda Kingloff, Parents, 2 Feb. 2024
This classic straight, handleless dowel pin is right in line with what Lucas prefers.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Stitch 1 inch from top and bottom of each strip for dowel casings; slip in dowels.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2023
Then use wood dowels to hold hangable items, support shelves, and mount hanging rods.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Shape is the easiest answer to this question: dowel is straight while French is tapered.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Dominos, on the other hand, are like wide, flat dowels, and provide alignment as well as a great deal of shear strength.
—Jean Levasseur, Popular Science, 26 July 2023
Verb
What is the difference between a French rolling pin and dowel rolling pin?
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Tie the other end of the string to a wooden stick or dowel.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022
If the stem is very weak, use a stick or dowel as a splint to prevent the stem from breaking off.
—Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 19 Mar. 2022
Cut 1x2 into eight 36-inch pieces, then cut 3/8-inch dowel rods into 12-inch lengths.
—Chelsea Evers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2021
Plug the holes with 3⁄8-inch dowel glued into place and trimmed flush [8].
—Ted Kilcommons, Popular Mechanics, 18 July 2020
For a classic spiral design, place your finger or dowel rod in the center of the shirt and start turning clockwise until the entire shirt reaches a spiral design.
—Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 9 June 2020
Kay would have had to carefully dowel these cuts together, and then shape them into a perfectly round wheel.
—Cody Cassidy, Wired, 6 May 2020
The great room, which features tongue-and-groove, doweled rafters above matching Koa floors, provides plenty of room to entertain, but the downstairs game room is where the real fun happens.
—Liv Sotheby's International Realty, The Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dowel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Dowel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dowel. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dowel
1 of 2 noun
dow·el
ˈdau̇(-ə)l
: a pin or peg used for fastening together two pieces of wood
also
: a round rod or stick used especially for cutting up into dowels
dowel
2 of 2 verb
dowelled also doweled; dowelling also doweling
: to fasten by dowels
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