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

• action figure
• dolly
• poppet [Midland]
• 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

Additionally, Barbie has tapped actresses and real-life besties Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple to receive their own dolls, who model miniature red carpet-worthy gowns. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 4 Mar. 2025

Mattel released eight new one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls for International Women's Day, honoring female friendship. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025

In 1991, Lasseter wrote a treatment for a feature film about Tinny and a cowboy doll finding their way home. —Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025

Girls may gather water samples, for example, to study under microscopes, or learn how to use a 3D printer to make a doll house. —Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from Doll, nickname for Dorothy

First Known Use

circa 1700, 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