# doll

/ˈdɑɫ/ (US) · /dˈɒl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doll
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a toy

noun · CEFR A1

a toy that looks like a small person, often a baby or a child.

For teachers: a small model of a human being, typically used as a child's toy.

- The little girl spent the afternoon dressing her doll in different outfits.
- Collectors often pay significant sums for antique porcelain dolls that have remained in their original packaging for decades.

### 2. a helpful person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is very kind, helpful, or easy to work with.

For teachers: a person perceived as particularly helpful, kind, or cooperative.

- Thanks for helping me move those heavy boxes; you are such a doll.
- The new assistant has been an absolute doll during this transition, handling the extra workload without a single complaint.

### 3. attractive woman

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

an old-fashioned way to describe a pretty woman.

For teachers: a slang term for an attractive young woman, now often considered dated or patronising.

- In those old movies, the lead actor often called his girlfriend a doll.
- While the term was common in mid-century noir films, calling a female colleague a doll is now viewed as unprofessional and sexist.

### 4. a pill

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a slang word for certain types of medicine or drugs in pill form.

For teachers: a slang term for a barbiturate or amphetamine tablet, popularized in mid-20th-century literature.

- The novel describes characters who rely on dolls to help them sleep.
- The 1966 novel 'Valley of the Dolls' used the term as a metaphor for the sedative pills the protagonists used to cope with fame.

### 5. to dress up

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to dress yourself or someone else in very nice or fancy clothes.

For teachers: to dress elegantly or extravagantly, almost exclusively used in the phrasal form 'doll up'.

- She got all dolled up for the wedding in a bright silk dress.
- They spent hours dolling themselves up for the gala, ensuring every detail of their formal attire was perfect.

Usage: Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'doll up' or the passive 'dolled up'.

## Examples

- The child carries her favorite doll everywhere.
- The museum features a collection of antique porcelain dolls dressed in traditional Victorian clothing.
- Psychologists often use dolls during therapy sessions to help young children express complex emotions or recount events they cannot yet articulate in words.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.