1
a
Christianity
: an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church
called also doctor of the church
b
: a learned or authoritative teacher
c
: a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (such as a PhD) conferred by a university
Most of the college's faculty members are doctors in their fields.
The class is being taught by Doctor Menzer.
2
a
: a person skilled or specializing in healing arts
especially
: one (such as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice
See your doctor if the condition worsens.
an eye doctor
doctors' bills
b
3
a
: material added (as to food) to produce a desired effect
b
: a blade (as of metal) for spreading a coating or scraping a surface
4
: a person who restores, repairs, or fine-tunes things
doctored; doctoring
ˈdäk-t(ə-)riŋ 
1
a
: to give medical treatment to
doctored her ailing husband
b
: to restore to good condition : repair
doctor an old clock
2
a
: to adapt or modify for a desired end by alteration or special treatment
doctored the play to suit the audience
The drink was doctored.
b
: to alter deceptively
accused of doctoring the election returns
The pitcher tried to cheat by doctoring the baseball.
1
: to practice medicine
a career doctoring in the country
2
dialect
: to take medicine
Synonyms
Examples of doctor in a Sentence
Noun
He needed medicine but refused to go to a doctor.
She was under doctor's orders not to return to work.
I saw her at the doctor's last week.
How long will you be at the doctor?
Most of the faculty members at this college are doctors in their fields.
Dr. Smith, can you explain the exam requirements again?
Verb
They were accused of doctoring the company's financial records.
a doctored photo of the actress
I think somebody doctored the punch.
He had time to doctor his wounds.
She doctored the sick child until the physician arrived.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
His doctor gave him a cortisone shot during the comatose period and his doctor sent him home.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 10 Dec. 2024
Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 19 Nov. 2024
The technology will review the images submitted by Yahoo news contributors and flag the ones that were probably generated or doctored by AI, helping the site’s editorial standards team decide whether to publish them.
—Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for doctor 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Lula underwent surgery for an intracranial hemorrhage after the 79-year-old leader complained of headaches that doctors believed to be the result of a fall in a bathroom at his home in October.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
His doctor gave him a cortisone shot during the comatose period and his doctor sent him home.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
Evidence of doctoring included using her business’ mailing address in Tumacacori, and a Rio Rico address for UBS Financial Services Inc., instead of the bank’s actual Phoenix address.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 19 Nov. 2024
The technology will review the images submitted by Yahoo news contributors and flag the ones that were probably generated or doctored by AI, helping the site’s editorial standards team decide whether to publish them.
—Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for doctor
Dictionary Entries Near doctor
Cite this Entry
“Doctor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctor. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
doctor
1 of 2 noun
doc·tor
ˈdäk-tər
1
: a person skilled or specializing in healing arts
especially
: one (as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice
2
a
: a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a PhD) conferred by a university
b
: a person awarded an honorary doctorate by a college or university
doctor
2 of 2 verb
doctored; doctoring
-t(ə-)riŋ
1
: to give medical treatment to
2
: castrate sense 1, spay
have your pet cat doctored
: to practice medicine
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