dog

noun, often attributive \ ˈdȯg , ˈdäg \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Examples: dog in a Sentence

Definition of dog

1 a : canid

wolves, foxes, and other dogs

; especially : a highly variable domestic mammal (Canis familiaris) closely related to the gray wolf

the family's pet dog

b : a male dog

dogs and bitches

; also : a male usually carnivorous mammal

2 a : a worthless or contemptible person

b : fellow, chap

a lazy dog

you lucky dog

3 a : any of various usually simple mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening that consist of a spike, bar, or hook

b : andiron

4 : uncharacteristic or affected stylishness or dignity

put on the dog

5 capitalized, astronomy : either of the constellations Canis Major or Canis Minor

6 dogs plural, anatomy : feet

rest his tired dogs

7 dogs plural : ruin

going to the dogs

8 : one inferior of its kind

the movie was a dog

: such as

a : an investment not worth its price

b : an undesirable piece of merchandise

9 : an unattractive person; especially : an unattractive girl or woman

10 : hot dog 1

bought two dogs and a beer

—

doglike

play \ˈdȯg-ˌlīk\ adjective

See dog defined for English-language learners

See dog defined for kids

Examples of dog in a Sentence

That dog barks all day long.
children playing with the family dog
wild dogs such as the Australian dingo
They say she's a real dog.
Her latest book turned out to be a real dog.
That was a dog of a movie.

Recent Examples of dog from the Web

The dog was reunited with his family two days later.

— amir vera, CNN, "Dog dies during Delta Air Lines layover in Michigan," 2 June 2018
The dog appears incredibly relaxed despite the wind displacing lips and ears.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award Grand Prize winner: "Church of Pit" by Dustin Hyman," 2 June 2018
The dog survived after officers took it to an animal hospital, police said.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "Police: Anchorage man hung ‘lifeless’ dog from fence by its leash," 1 June 2018
Insiders will recognize real-world touches: the bookish spectacles one defendant dons for court, the feral dogs that roam gang neighborhoods, the civilian police employee who passes tips to her gang-member nephew.

— jill leovy, New York Times, "The Killers of the ‘Sex Money Murder’ Gang and the Cops Who Went After Them," 1 June 2018
The 4-year-old dog had somehow sustained an injury to his windpipe that was allowing air to leak into his body and seep underneath his skin, causing him to bloat, according to a statement Friday from the Willows Veterinary Group.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Dachshund blew up like a balloon, 'crackled like Bubble Wrap'," 1 June 2018
The dogs of trade war are barking In Trump’s defense, there is a real problem with global steel markets.

— zack beauchamp, Vox, "Why Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs on US allies are so dangerous," 31 May 2018
The remaining dogs were taken to St. Louis County animal control.

— kaitlyn schwers, kansascity, "They left 13 dogs in a hot car for hours, Missouri cops say. Now they face charges," 31 May 2018
The old black dog comes in one evening with the first few snowflakes on his back and falls asleep, throwing his bad leg out at our excitement.

— danny heitman, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Kindest Regards' serves up the quietly subversive poetry of Ted Kooser," 29 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dog.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of dog

Origin and Etymology of dog

Middle English, from Old English docga

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

dog Synonyms

Synonyms

beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cur, heel, jerk, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, reptile, scum, skunk, slob, snake, stinker, swine, varmint, vermin;

Near Antonyms

hero, heroine, idol, role model;

gentleman, lady;

angel, saint;

loudmouth, vulgarian;

lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch;

booby, fool, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, nut;

airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dolt, dope, dork [slang], goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey;

Phrases

son of a gun;

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

dog

adjective

Definition of dog

transitive verb

1 : canine

dog breeders

a dog collar

2 : having an inferior or inauthentic quality : spurious

dog rhyme

; especially, languages : unlike that used by native speakers or writers

dog Latin

dog French

Recent Examples of dog from the Web

Dog beds: Hemp Vintage Stripe Envelope in Black; harrybarker.com.

— Southern Living, "Source Guide - September 2013," 1 Sep. 2013
For entertainment, there will be dog races, a police K-9 demonstration, dogs splashing into water and Repticon, a showing of exotic pets, consisting of reptiles, insects and amphibians.

— louis casiano jr., Orange County Register, "Meet and greet canines and critters, from furry to feathered, at Pet Expo in Costa Mesa," 28 Apr. 2017

Origin and Etymology of dog

see ¹dog

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

dog

verb

Definition of dog

dogged play \ˈdȯgd, ˈdägd\; dogging

1 a : to hunt, track, or follow like a hound

dogged her every move

b : to worry as if by pursuit with dogs : plague

dogged by his past failures

c : to bother or pester persistently

dogged him about his grades

2 : to fasten with a simple mechanical device consisting of a spike, bar, or hook : to fasten with a dog (see ¹dog 3a)

dogged down the hatch

— dog it

: to fail to do one's best : goldbrick

See dog defined for English-language learners

Examples of dog in a Sentence

He dogged her every move.
Creditors dogged him until he finally paid his bills.

Recent Examples of dog from the Web

The development was the latest in a string of discriminatory practices that have dogged the retailer.

— elizabeth chuck /, NBC News, "Target fires manager after black woman says she was racially profiled," 5 June 2018
The surveillance footage saga is emblematic of the grindingly slow progress in a case that has dogged relations between Italy and Egypt, and in which politics and police work have become hopelessly intertwined.

— declan walsh, New York Times, "Egypt Hands Over Video in Murder Case — Damaged and 2 Years Late," 1 June 2018
One of the major obstacles is the one that had dogged diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang for decades: persuading North Korea that the security of its regime doesn’t depend on nuclear weapons.

— michael c. bender, WSJ, "Trump Expects ‘Very Positive’ Special Delivery From North Korea," 1 June 2018
With just one term under his belt, Duque is seen as inexperienced but also free from the corruption allegations that dog Colombia’s political elite.

— ciara nugent, Time, "Ivan Duque Is Colombia’s Right Wing Answer to Macron, and He’s Poised to Win the Presidency," 31 May 2018
VanDeWeghe didn’t have any formal business to handle that evening, and none of the antics led to the kinds of fines or suspensions that have dogged Green in playoffs past (cough, Game 5 of the 2016 Finals, cough).

— sam amick, USA TODAY, "Love it or hate it, Draymond Green's emotion vital to Warriors' greatness," 4 May 2018
The scene of predominantly white protesters shouting over people of color fed a criticism that has dogged backers of recent legislative efforts to boost home building.

— liam dillon, latimes.com, "A major California housing bill failed after opposition from the low-income residents it aimed to help. Here's how it went wrong," 2 May 2018
Axios reported Monday that longtime Clinton supporters received an invitation offering access -- a word that dogged Hillary Clinton throughout her failed 2016 presidential campaign -- to the family at a May 24 benefit for the Clinton Foundation.

— adam shaw, Fox News, "Clinton Foundation revving back up despite ethical cloud," 1 May 2018
One of the few criticisms that dog Ivey are questions of her health.

— anna claire vollers, AL.com, "Gov. Kay Ivey steadied the ship, now asks Alabama voters to choose her," 24 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of dog

see ¹dog

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1519

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

dog Synonyms

Phrases

run after;

dog

adverb

Definition of dog

: extremely, utterly

dog-tired

Origin and Etymology of dog

see ¹dog

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1526

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

DOG Defined for Kids

dog

noun \ ˈdȯg \

Definition of dog for Students

1 : a domestic animal that eats meat and is closely related to the wolves

2 : any of the group of mammals (as wolves, foxes, and jackals) to which the domestic dog belongs

3 : person 1

You lucky dog!

—

doglike

\ˈdȯ-ˌglīk\ adjective

dog

verb

Definition of dog for Students

dogged; dogging

1 : to hunt, track, or follow like a hound

I dogged them all the way.

2 : pester

3 : to cause problems for

Injuries dogged the team.

Medical Dictionary

dog

noun, often attributive \ ˈdȯg \

medical Definition of dog

: a highly variable carnivorous domesticated mammal of the genus Canis (C. familiaris) closely related to the common wolf (Canis lupus); broadly : any member of the family Canidae