doll

1 of 2

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

dollish

2 of 2

adjective

doll·​ish ˈdälish 

ˈdȯl-, 

-lēsh

: like a doll

specifically : pretty but rather empty-headed

dollishly

-lə̇shlē, 

-lēsh-, 

-shli

adverb

dollishness

-lishnə̇s, 

-lēsh-

noun

plural -es

Synonyms of doll

Noun

• dolly
• puppet

Examples of doll in a Sentence

Noun

My aunt collects porcelain dolls.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The script by Kevin Wade throws up hurdles of sexism and class snobbery, never sugarcoating how Tess’s male co-workers treat her like a blow-up doll. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Rodrigo caught heat after performing in a baby-doll dress with bloomers beneath last month in Spain. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 29 June 2026

Interactive stations allow customers to personalize handbags, create custom makeup kits, adopt dolls complete with birth certificates and customize Brio train sets. — Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Stanichi noted that the face of the doll has actually changed almost every 10 years. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from Doll, nickname for Dorothy

First Known Use

Noun

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