doll

noun

ˈdäl 

ˈdȯl

1

: a small-scale figure of a human being used especially as a child's plaything

2

a(1)

: a pretty but often empty-headed young woman

(2)

: woman

b

: darling, sweetheart

c

: an attractive person

dollish

ˈdä-lish 

ˈdȯ-

adjective

dollishly adverb

dollishness noun

Synonyms of doll

• dolly
• puppet

Examples of doll in a Sentence

My aunt collects porcelain dolls.

there was a row of dolls along the shelf in the bedroom

Recent Examples on the Web

The 9-year-old enjoys playing with her dolls and caring for them. —The Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Nov. 2025

To complete the look, pop in a parsley sprig or a doll-house bouquet of fake roses ($7 for a half dozen or so). —Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025

Buchanan introduced the original iteration of the CREEPER Act in 2020 after NBC 6 South Florida reported that a lifelike doll resembling an actual girl in the Miami area was being sold on Amazon and other websites after a photo of the child was stolen and her likeness appropriated. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025

While Brittany carried Golden Raye in a gray animal print sling, Sterling’s doll was placed in a floral carrier, matching her pink dress. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from Doll, nickname for Dorothy

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing doll

• Barbie doll
• bobblehead doll
• doll's house
• doll up
• rag doll

Rhymes for doll

• ahl
• all
• aul
• bawl
• brawl
• call
• caul
• crawl
• dol
• drawl
• fall
• gall

Kids Definition

doll

noun

ˈdäl 

ˈdȯl

1

: a small figure of a human being used especially as a child's plaything

2

a

: a pretty young woman

b

: an attractive person