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

Torres continues to show great flair in writing for Oscar winners, though, with Portman playing a mother delighted by her daughter’s interest in a step-child doll to torment. —Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026

Most of Lucy Boynton’s beauty references the 1960s, and this doll-like bob screams modern mod. —Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 27 May 2026

Fennell skips over the ceremony, to a scene of Cathy alone at a banquet table where Edgar’s clingy ward, Isabella (Alison Oliver), gives her the wedding gift of a Cathy doll, installed in a dollhouse identical to her new home. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026

Still, her figures’ blond-and-rose bodies continue to effortlessly capture our eye in their baby-doll come-hitherness. —Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 23 May 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