doughnut
noun
dough·nut
ˈdō-(ˌ)nət 
variants
or less commonly donut
1
: a small usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough
2
: something (such as a mathematical torus) that has a round shape like a doughnut
3
: a controlled skid that sends an automobile into a tight circle of at least 360 degrees
—usually used in the phrase do doughnuts
Doing doughnuts? You haven't heard about this? This is what they steal the cars for. Top speed, they slam on the brakes, yank the emergency brake, twist the steering wheel, and the car starts spinning. Wheeling the car in circles at tremendous speeds.—
Philip Roth
Philip RothExamples of doughnut in a Sentence
drawing doughnuts in the sand
Recent Examples on the Web
In the Netherlands, Oliebollen, doughnut-like fritters stuffed with apples, are a traditional Dutch New Year’s sweet.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 30 Dec. 2025
The Oneida, whose original homeland is in New York, interacted with the Dutch and soon adapted this tradition creating circular or Hoyan cakes (doughnuts) to commemorate the New Year their way, according to an oral traditional story told by Oneida’s Lydia Doxtater in 1942 to historians in New York.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 30 Dec. 2025
For anyone who might need a sugar boost after a long holiday season, Dunkin' is helping everyone ring in the new year with a free doughnut.
—Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Take your pick of fan favorites such as crème brûlée doughnuts and churro beignets, or seasonal specialties like pumpkin spice doughnuts.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doughnut
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Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 30 Dec. 2025
The Oneida, whose original homeland is in New York, interacted with the Dutch and soon adapted this tradition creating circular or Hoyan cakes (doughnuts) to commemorate the New Year their way, according to an oral traditional story told by Oneida’s Lydia Doxtater in 1942 to historians in New York.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 30 Dec. 2025
For anyone who might need a sugar boost after a long holiday season, Dunkin' is helping everyone ring in the new year with a free doughnut.
—Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Take your pick of fan favorites such as crème brûlée doughnuts and churro beignets, or seasonal specialties like pumpkin spice doughnuts.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doughnut
Cite this Entry
“Doughnut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doughnut. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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