Dote
verb
To love someone greatly and express it excessively.
Grandparents often dote on their grandchildren.
Often appears as...
- dote on
- dote upon
verb
To be extremely fond of.
She dotes on her cats
Often appears as...
- dote on
- dote upon
verb
To show excessive love or fondness habitually.
They dote on their daughter
Often appears as...
- dote on
- dote upon
verb
To be silly or feeble-minded, especially as a result of old age.
Sadly, the old man started to dote in his later years.
Often appears as...
- begin to dote
- dote in old age
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To love someone greatly and express it excessively.
Grandparents often dote on their grandchildren.
Often appears as...
- dote on
- dote upon
verb
To be extremely fond of.
She dotes on her cats
Often appears as...
- dote on
- dote upon
verb
To show excessive love or fondness habitually.
They dote on their daughter
Often appears as...
- dote on
- dote upon
verb
To be silly or feeble-minded, especially as a result of old age.
Sadly, the old man started to dote in his later years.
Often appears as...
- begin to dote
- dote in old age
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Exaggerated Affection
Use 'dote' to describe a level of affection that is visibly excessive and sometimes overwhelming to others.
She dotes on her boyfriend with endless gifts and attention.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Connotation
'Dote' generally implies that the affection is positive and heartfelt, even if it's too much.
Despite his flaws, she dotes on him constantly.
Pro Tip 3/3Selective Focus
When someone dotes, it often means they focus their love or affection toward a specific person or thing.
After retiring, he started to dote on his garden.
Pro Tip 1/3Exaggerated Affection
Use 'dote' to describe a level of affection that is visibly excessive and sometimes overwhelming to others.
She dotes on her boyfriend with endless gifts and attention.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Connotation
'Dote' generally implies that the affection is positive and heartfelt, even if it's too much.
Despite his flaws, she dotes on him constantly.
Pro Tip 3/3Selective Focus
When someone dotes, it often means they focus their love or affection toward a specific person or thing.
After retiring, he started to dote on his garden.
Pro Tip 1/3Exaggerated Affection
Use 'dote' to describe a level of affection that is visibly excessive and sometimes overwhelming to others.
She dotes on her boyfriend with endless gifts and attention.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Connotation
'Dote' generally implies that the affection is positive and heartfelt, even if it's too much.
Despite his flaws, she dotes on him constantly.
Pro Tip 3/3Selective Focus
When someone dotes, it often means they focus their love or affection toward a specific person or thing.
After retiring, he started to dote on his garden.
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Video examples
Genetic Code for...
in an evolutionary flip-flop the virally altered vole returned to dote on his
Video examples
Genetic Code for...
in an evolutionary flip-flop the virally altered vole returned to dote on his
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Edward Young
English Poet
Some for renown, on scraps of learning dote, And think they grow immortal as they quote.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
I dote on his very absence.
Quote examples
Edward Young
English Poet
Some for renown, on scraps of learning dote, And think they grow immortal as they quote.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
I dote on his very absence.
Example 1 of 2
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