dolly

1 of 2

noun

dol·​ly ˈdä-lē 

ˈdȯ-lē

plural dollies

1

: doll

2

: a wooden-pronged instrument for beating and stirring clothes in the process of washing them in a tub

3

: a compact narrow-gauge railroad locomotive for moving construction trains and for switching

4

a

: a platform on a roller or on wheels or casters for moving heavy objects

b

: a wheeled platform for a television or movie camera

dolly

2 of 2

verb

dollied; dollying

transitive verb

1

: to treat with a dolly

2

: to move or convey on a dolly

intransitive verb

: to move a movie or television camera about on a dolly while shooting a scene

also, of a camera : to be moved on a dolly

Synonyms

Noun

• action figure
• doll
• poppet [Midland]
• puppet

Examples of dolly in a Sentence

Noun

We'll need a dolly to move the refrigerator.

my kid sister was always playing with her dollies

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And there’s little tears out of these big men that are pushing dollies and things. —Colleen Bidwill, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024

The studio apartment for Rudy the Chicken is built atop a dolly with wheels. —Christopher Kamrani, The Athletic, 31 July 2024

Below the hole in the ceiling were carts and two-wheeled dollies. —Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 31 July 2024

The building will break from the basement foundation before it’s placed on large hydraulic dollies to move to the new location. —Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1878, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dolly

• dolly bird
• dolly shot

Kids Definition

dolly

noun

ˈdäl-ē,

ˈdȯ-lē

plural dollies

1

: doll sense 1

2

: a platform on a roller or on wheels for moving heavy objects

especially : a wheeled platform for a television or motion-picture camera