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 resulting pictures seem to depict families in cramped but contented circumstances—doting relatives beaming at a child, a man reading a newspaper, spectators watching a baseball game against a backdrop of mountains. —Jake Whitney, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024

Now, the actor, 56, is a doting father of four and 11 years sober. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Josh Hartnett has a grand old time as Cooper, a doting father who takes his daughter to see a Taylor Swift-like singer’s concert (director M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter, Saleka). —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 12 Nov. 2024

Their scenes are done away from the studio audience, which doting TV dad Jordan totally gets. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024

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

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