dote

verb

ˈdōt 

doted; doting

intransitive verb

1

: to exhibit mental decline of or like that of old age : be in one's dotage

2

: to be lavish or excessive in one's attention, fondness, or affection

—usually used with on

doted on her only grandchild

doter noun

dotingly

ˈdō-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• adore
• adulate
• canonize
• deify
• hero-worship
• idolize
• worship

Examples of dote in a Sentence

doted on her only grandchild

Recent Examples on the Web

The doting mother told her Today co-host co-host Sheinelle Jones last September about an emotional moment during Hal's start to the school year. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025

Inside a small room, 1/3 the size of Tony’s, we were assigned a server who doted on us all night. —Michael Ashley, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

The family has six cats, and both Kevin and Elodie like doting on them. —Haley Van Horn, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025

This approach flirts with sketch comedy stretched beyond its natural limits, but is fully validated in the form of Poorna Jagannathan’s Auntie Lucky, the Dars’ doting family friend who turns out to be a cold-blooded queenpin. —Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English; akin to Middle Low German dotten to be foolish

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dote

• dote on/upon

Rhymes for dote

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• coat
• cote
• float
• gloat
• goat
• groat
• haute
• moat
• mote

Kids Definition

dote

verb

ˈdōt 

doted; doting

: to be excessive in one's attention or fondness

—usually used with on

doted on their grandchild

dotingly

ˈdōt-iŋ-lē 

adverb