Meaning

(intransitive, stative, usually with on) To be weakly or foolishly fond of somebody..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive, stative, usually with on) To be weakly or foolishly fond of somebody.
2. (intransitive, archaic) To act in a foolish manner; to be senile.
3. (intransitive, of trees, rare or obsolete) To rot, decay.
4. (countable, Ireland) A darling, a cutie.
5. (countable, obsolete) An imbecile; a dotard.
6. (uncountable, rare) Decay in a tree.
7. (obsolete) Dowry.
8. (obsolete, transitive) To endow, donate.

Example Sentences

Little Bill's parents just keep doting on him.

Jules doted on Chris, spending hours while Chris was at school assembling vast cities out of microscopic Lego pieces to surprise him when he returned.

He survived the use of his reason, grew infatuated, and doted long before he died.

Time has made you dote, and vainly tell / Of arms imagined in your lonely cell.

But to be sure baby Boardman was as good as gold, a perfect little dote in his new fancy bib.

How did his death-bed make him a doate!

Word Forms

• dotes
• doting
• doted
• doat

Synonyms for dote

Related Words

When Should You Use Dote?

Use dote when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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